The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-02
THE MORAL AWAKENING
 OF AMERICAN PEOPLE

most keen1y sensitive to the nations sins, and the true patriot, like the true proph- et is a flaming, ncarnate conscience in the midst of his people. He is the pa- triotic man who loves his country too well and too truly to shut his eyes to her moral dangers.
 It might be well if for while our na- tional festivals could be turned into na- tonal lasts, great days of heart search ing and examination, whea the peo- pie should stand face to face with their national sins and be brought to a thor ough and radical repentance. And, thank God, there are signs in many quarters that such a moral process is going on. Never was our popular periodical litera- ture so frank and fearless in its expo sure of our besetting sins, of graft and corruption in business and politics. You may call it "muckraking" for sensational purposes only, perhaps because the scalpel has touched your sensitive spot Possi- bly, much of 1t is, but some at least sounds in my ears like the brave preach ing of true prophets and patriots. like the cry of the Baptist, the invective of Isaiah, the lamentation of Jeremiah, or the word of the Master himself.
 And the conscience of the people is re- spending to such preaching. In the last few years there has been a quickening of the moral sense throughout the nation
 
 quarters, and has made some effort to set it's house in order. It may be In some instance for prudence reasons only. and not for righteousness sake; but at least a, new decency and honesty are being forced on the most unwilling.
 Politics has felt 1t, and the note of moral appeal is heard more frequently in stump speeches and congressional ora tons than ever before. Much of it may Ia fNr offA hut .nf ic and all of it witnesses to the ethical de- mand In the heart of the people. For the politician has his ear to the ground and discerns the popular mind.
 I do not believe that this movement Is a mere passing spasm of hysterical vir- tue, but a permanent uplift of whole people. The individual waves may break and recede, even a national administra- ton may fall into the trough of reaction but the tide will go on. There Is a new impulse both to social investigation and social service. Never were our problems being so thoroughly and scientifically studied as today. Never were books on these subjects so carefully written or widely read; never was our periodical literature, even our popular novels, So full of serious questions and earnest thought in these directions. Never was there such enthusiasm for the solution of problems that concern our common life as a people, nation, and never were so many of our best men and women giving their minds, their lives, themselves to the public welfare and service.
 These are signs that make glad the heart of the true patriot. They seem to show that our people as people are awakening to a clearer and larger con- sciousness both of our national sins and our national possibilities. It looks as If America, melted by the spirit of God were in the first throes of real re- pentance and regeneration, as if the na- tion would eventually experience a change of heart and be born again.