The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1908-05-01


civilization, it is the home. About 1t
cluster all that is dear and near to the
average citizen OF America and Eng
land and 1t is because the family
life is so exalted, so protected and
so beloved that the spirit of democracy
in these countries finds the most intel
lgent expression that the world knows.
The family is the unit upon which
rests all that IL worth maintaining In
christian civilization and the family
depends for its success and happiness,
not upon brilliancy OF mind but upon
sterling individual worth and so the
American and the Englishman realize
that above everything else high per
sonal character is the greatest asset.
There are many things which the
pessimist can readily seize and use
as an argument for encouragement
when any attempt Is made to peer In
to the future, but there are so many
other things that show marked tend
ency for the betterment Of the race
that when they are looked at plainly
and fairly give the optimist his innings.
There is no question to every thought
full and well informed man in this
country, as well as in England, that
there is an increasing demand among
the middle class OF the people-that
class which rules the destiny of the
two nations-that men in public af-
fairs shall have the same standard
of living, the same standard of life
that they have in private. Smartness
is no longer at premium. However
it has been true in the past, it is not
ably at discount just now. The fact
that Dixie with all his magnificent
ability which is unquestioned, cannot
secure the honor of his country, is
duplicated many times in America to-
day. The great awakening which has
been going on for the last ten years
against predatory wealth reduced to
its simplest terms is simply an insist
ence that as a nation the people are
placing honesty and virtue to the front
as the great asset in business, in
commercial in social and political life.
They care not so much for smart men
as they do for good men and what they
do want in their leaders is a combina-
ton of both. There are captains of
industry who are recognized as men
of tremendous power who never can
be honored. They are smart, but they
are not good. There are great poll
teal leaders, some of whom are men
toned for the presidency whose knowl-
edge and sagacity are without ques-
ton, almost phenomenal, and yet they
could never get the votes of their
countrymen simply because their hon
esty of purpose and their fidelity to
the welfare of the people is doubted.
On the other hand, it was never so
true as it is today, that the public
men who are attracting favor possess
in splendid degree the qualities which
are so much desired. The two men
who are most prominent in the minds
of the people for the republican NOM
nation for the presidency, William H.
Taft and Charles E. Hughes, are names
to conjure with, not alone because
each of them have shown transcendant
ability and great intellectual capacity
but because coupled with these mag
nificent endowments they each possess
such characters in their individual
lives that the people delight to honor
| them. 1t is equally true that in the
democratic party the names of Bryan,
| Johnson of Minnesota and Judge Gray
of Delaware represent men, not only
of excellent ability but Of good, clean
personal lives. In truth. as far as Mr..
Bryan is concerned, as personal
asset his kindly manner and his re-
cord as a christian gentleman far out
| weighs anything else in the public
mind. He holds the public attention,
not because of his intellectual power.
| He has committed himself so fully
many times to so many different poll
tical fallacies that were it not for his
simple life he could not continue to
hold the attention of the public. And
while this may be poor judgment on
the part Of many, it only emphasizes
the truth that today in order for men
to succeed as public leaders, they must
have as basis clean, manly personal
| lives.
1t is a tribute to the age in which
we live, it is an inspiration to all who
desire the spirit Of democracy and
liberty to permeate the world that
never did the Anglo-Saxon people de-
mand higher standards Of conduct
from the men who seek to lead them
in public affairs.