Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-07
CLEAR, CRISP AND CLEAN
AMERICANISM

FRENCH newspaper seems to
N have "scooped" all America by
IA publishing an interview with Mr..
Taft, in which he said if elected presi-
dent of the United States his policies
would be EXACTLY the same as those or
President Roosevelt" The Temps is
the paper which published the inter-
view. 1t does not contain any matter
that is not familiar to American read
ers, but 1T is interesting to know that
MIR. Taft is being doomed in Europe for
the presidency. The nations of the OLD
World take keen interest in American
politics nowadays. This is one of many
evidences of the fact that America is
regarded as world power Never in
it's history has this country had such
an opportunity as it has today of illus
trating to all mankind the truth of the
ethical principles which are involved in
and illustrated by the life of the re-
public. Liberty and opportunity may
lead to material results. They are not
in themselves material. You cannot
make parcel of Liberty. You cannot
weigh out opportunity by the pound.
Yet together they are responsible for
the wealth and the power of the United
States. But every good citizen should
beware. MUST beware of losing sight
of the inspiration in his joy over the
demonstration. The finest cathedral
building in the world is beautiful tol
look at but the inspiration and the
cause which the cathedral represents
are immeasurably greater than the
building. It may be burned down or
shaken to pieces by an earthquake, but
fire cannot burn and earthquake cannot
destroy the influence which built the
cathedral. All the world Is watching
Lmerica. The wiser men, the thinking
men, of the nations are seriously
anxious about our future. 1t should
never be forgotten that Americanism
has many, many friends who are not
Americans. They have believed that
Americanism is the hope of the world,
and they have eagerly awaited the sue
cess of the American experiment. I'm
less it should prove to be complete
success it is hopeless to expect the
civilized world to become Americanized.
AS long as we kept ourselves on high
plane of morality we were regarded
with more than mere admiration. 1t is
a fact that a good man is always
treated by an average man or an in
ferior man with a considerable amount
of reverence. The inferior man-mor-
ally or intellectually-may pretend that
he doesn't really care for the opinions,
for the approval or disapproval of the
other, but in his heart he knows that
h does. So many wise men have made
the statement that we are on the verge
OF a crisis in national lie that we cam
not pooh-pooh the assertion without
doubling the soundness of judgment of
some of the sanest and best thinkers
of our time. But the word "crisis" is
robbed of it's terrors, and the little
brothers who are afraid there will be
trouble become reassured when it be-
comes evident that the crisis will only
result in a return to first principles.
Not long ago President Roosevelt, who
is believed to lead a strenuous life, was
advising world-worn Americans to read
a book on "The Simple Life" His ad-
vice was in keeping with a sentiment
that is becoming more and more power
full. America was not founded to illus
trate complexity but simplicity. Let us
show the French and other friends that
we can ito our own selves be true"