Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-10-10
AMERICA >,
CONTRACTS
=, NJ Theodore Barth.)

q -. I first journeyeu aO a.
Ensu the same idea persists IN
'Str 'S.rudIns itself now that l return ,aara
'OuuI ~ interval of ten years
al,s, l.sa..vsr I turn see irreconciiaDie
4 ,"'DtradIctlOns, remarkable con1Int ng'r,t-
c0n"ab ~S,ob are bound by no spirit
W.. y. lie, least of all a losical o" one,
- y" ,.ct Of system of the whole
ins ..,csn cultural development is
~ chief cause that even snarp
.iss,ed ~ observers so often mis1udse
american union. Generaliza"
ns Nv are never more dangerous than
] ' ,,,IeizIns the American charac'
,.rl.tIcs and conditions. It is true
~, strong materlallstic strain
~ .,sos the whole commercial life
!, ,no country; superficial observers
'rsn have represented the Yankeen
nation for whom the chase or
=. sollar has assumed the same
,-oortance as the chase OF the buff
,,o AID for the Indians. the former
,0h.bItants OF the cotntry. Those
.uo observers saw in the state and
M, more in the municipal politics
o,lv corruption and graft. Such
AluSs do occur and are by no means
,,re But beside the race for mon
., and the political corruption there
~, developed an ideallsm in public
ana social service which safely can
,h,lleuge comparison with the most
highly cultivated states of the old
rorld Such contradictory currents
are characteristics OF the morals OF
this country also.
No people is so rich in inventions
for rapldlty OF trafflc as the Ameri-
can. yet he suffers with patience In
he busiest streets holes in the pave
nents that are n constant menace
10 the life and limb OF men and
horses. Wall street, a typical artery
Of the materlalIstlc world, ends at
Broadway In the graveyard OF Trim
ny church! But the hundreds OF
thousands who daily crowd the pave
ment between this cemetery and
Wall street never notice the con-
traa which strikes a stranger at
trt glance. This is comprehensive
only II we realize that this callous-
rsss to contrasts is related closely to
4 most pronounced desire for the
speculative.
The highest building in the world,
he quickest horse, the dearest pic
iuFe, the most costly jewels, the
h'gest library, and the richest man
II the world as a neighbor are the
pride OF the average American.
Bu, there Is a charm for him also
10 having suffered the most disas-
fous earthquake, to have seen the
most devastating eonflagration, or
10 be able TO boast OF some other
event which, unpleasant as Il may
have been, yet satisfied his desire of
NE superlatiye. | remember that a
citizen once showed me the city hall
n bis town whose ARCHITECTURAL
charms chiefly were noticeable by
'aeir absence, and produly related
mat more money had been stolen
curing its construction than In any
city hall In the world.
Ihe confidence in the future OF
NE country Is an unmeasured one
and this boundless optimism awakes
: o0undless spirit OF adventure. II
"e'ldent that this development can
AO' last forever; out of this lack of
"''em the grayest administrative,
''eal' and political problems must
"ne' More aud more II becomes
aia 70 reflective natures that In no
UiAaht future the naturalistic de-
'''Opment of the great republic will
: matted by all the difncult prob
oi The modern civic communi-
- N Their aeutest forms. Mean
s times are prosperous" and
s great mass of the people is bor-
'0s'ng no trouble.
'ae Americans motto is: "Glve
'he Injuries OF life and / will
ask for the necessities" He
,a,. my bear present deprivations II he
s1l.. .' that in the future he will be
IN ouy his wife's jewels; and
a., as life he will feel convinced
some day he will be lucky
~. asa to be able to do 1t. Every
~. ..0ires to something better
n,,. ~ Present lot, which is the
s.m.ao reason why there is no socIa,
Tie sord u'opeah sense OF
ss...,. american workman does not
~N41I|NN 49, 49,