Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-05
Sunday Morning Talk.
Holding on to What We Have.

Holding on to What We Have.
It was a splendid idea 10 have the
governors OF the various states confer
with the President Of the United States
concerning the conservation Of natural
resources. We are at last waking up to
the fact that American soil, forests,
mines and other material resources are
not inexhaustible. If we go on denuding
our forests. wasting our water supplies,
trying to get more out Of the soil than
we put back into 1t, poverty and want
will In due time confront those who come
after us, and this country. instead OF
being in the imagination Of many for
eigners a kind Of Ell Dorado, will become.
like the prodiga!, prematurely old through
wasting our substance in riotous living.
Because Americans are quick to respond
to anything affecting their material in
terests hen once their eyes are opened,
the country Is sure to be a gamer by
the Washington conference, and the COM
missions just appointed will doubtless act
so as to conserve the resources OF the
country. But what about the resources
which you cannot dig up with shovel
or a pick or hew down with an ak? How
about the splendid traditions of liberty.
democracy and fraternity which are
Americas true glory? How about those
intangible assets in the way Of character
and high moral ideals that have given
the United States an exalted place among
the nations? When are we going to have
a conference at Washington with regard
to conserving them? Who is looking
out for them? Who cares most
tiot ma
that peace and good will prevail through
out all its borders; that 1t shall put It's
confidence not in skyscraping office build
ings. or IN a first-class navy. or IN IT'S
great acreage Of valuable soil. but in the
Lord God Almighty?
While the din of the Fourth OF July
is all about us. and we are burning a
good deal Of pow der in order to demon
strate our belief that this Is the best
country the sun shines on. we may we'll
pause to take fresh measurement Of
the moral and spiritual resources of the
land. note how and by whom they are
being wasted and plan wisely for their
conservation.
If such a conference should be held
here it would be likely to issue In at
least three important commissions for
which / venture to outline certain duties.
There ought to be in the first place a
commission on simplicity In living. 1t
would inquire into the disposition of
American families to live beyond their in
comes. to vie with their neighbors in dress
and expenditures for the table and
amusements. 1t would point out the fact
that the founders Of this country set a
pretty frugal table. but nevertheless
thrived upon It, and that the ultimate
source of every financial panic is eXtrav-
agance, the blowing in" of money on
baubles. Yes. there would be a big work
for such commission. They would soon
come face to face with the problems OF
socialism. Of anarchism and of every
other ISM that may threaten the life
Of the republic.
Another commission could spend much
time profitably in forming plans to con-
serve the traditional ideals OF democ-
racy. Theoretically they still hold, but
with the incoming of men from all Sec
lions Of Europe and Asia these ideals
are being subjected to a severe testing.
Not all OF us are quite sure that the man
whose skin is black or yellow or brown is
quite as good as the man Of Pilgrim or
Knickerbocker ancestry. The appella-
tons "dago'' and "sheeny" and coon"
are passed from lip to lip altoge| her too
glibly The spirit which prompts the use
Of them hardly accords with the first SEN
tence in the Constitution Of the United
States.
One more commission ought surely to be
named. 1t should be called the public
worship commission. 1t should study
into the effects of continuous neglect OF
the sanctuary upon parents, children and
grandchildren. 1t should sound a needed
note Of alarm. 1t should put clearly be-
fore every community the Fundamental
duty of supporting faithfully and en-
Enthusiastically those institutions that keeI
alive the sense Of God and the mora
sense. 1t also should bark back to the
founders of the nation and call to mine
their reverence for the meeting house,
the place where from Sunday to Sunday
God meets men and men meet one another
on the highest levels of life.
We shall not get these commissions i'm
mediately, but while Fourth of July in
fluences are strong upon us, we can think
seriously of holding on. as nation, t.
the best things that have come dowr
from the fathers. THE PARSON.