The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-01
CHAUTAUQUA CHATS
By Katherine Hopkins Chapman
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talks straight to the point and to his hearers. He is pronounced optimist and gives good reasons for the faith that is in him. At Chautauqua he said, in part:
 These meetings furnish evidence of the alertness. zeal and earnestness for mental and moral betterment which characterize the American people. Their restless eagerness to know and to do something worth while are symp- toms of health. There are a few. for tunately only few. who devote them selves to ease and seif-indulgence, awakening passionate remonstrance by their spectacular incongruity with American ideals. But the attitude of many ot these Is apologetic.
 The typical American does not seek idleness but work. He wants to justi- fy himself by proved capacity in use- ful effort. Under different conditions he still has the spirit of those who faced the wilderness, advanced the out posts of civilization and settled con tinent of .matchless resources The VI tality of this people has not been sap- ped, the increase of comfort has not impaired their virility. We are still a hardy people, equal to our task.
 It Is easy for a pessimist to gather statistics which, superficially consid- cred, are dsscouraging. Congestion in our great cities. the greater opportun- ities for seiishness, the increased temp tations following prosperity. give rise to an appalling number and variety ot private and public wrongs whose vic- tins voice an undying appeal to hu- manity and patriotism.
 But these wrongs must be consid- cred in relation to other phazes of our modern life. We must take note of the increasing intensity and earnestnesa with which all forms of evil are stud fed and attacked. The ethical senti- ment of our country must be deter mined by our vital regard for sobriety, virtue and fiduc.ary responsibility. l believe that the moral standards of the American people were never more sound than they are today.
 Tn saying this I am not at all un- mindful of how far short we come of an ideal state of society. On the com trary, existing evils stand out in stronger contrast because of the de- s:res and aspirations of the people. We have had disclosures of shocking infi- deity to public trust and obligation. but more important than the evil dis closed was the altitude of the people toward it. Cynics have no audience in this country.
 Today the American people are more alive to the importance of impartial and honorable administration than ever before. They don't simply discuss 1t; they demafid it
 While in many communities adminis traitor Is controlled in the selfish in- terest of the few to the detriment oi the many, that which is most charac- teristic of our present political life is the determination that selfish abuse governmental machinery, shall stop.
 Our country may be likened to man of native vigor who ie determined by a proper system of hygiene to correct disorders and come as closely as possi- ble to perfect health. In taking ac- count of his condition he may nave q pardonable pride in finding that there is no evidence of fundamental decay. It may be added that his improvement will be more rapid if he aims to avoid nervous excitement.
 When the public conscience is awake what Is most useful Is careful analysis Of existing evils, true diagnosis and