Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-04-23

society which should be familiar to
! ail--constantly looked to, constantly
labored for, and even though never
perfectly attained, constantir APP
4 proximated, and thereby constantly
spreading and deepening It's influence.
and augmenting the happiness and
value Of life to all people, every
where
When Republics Die.
Let us then, take into account the
actual facts OF life, and not be mis-
led into following any proposal for
achieving the millennium, for re-
creating the golden age, until we have
subjected 1t to hard-headed exgmina-
tion. On the other hand, 1t is fool
ish to reject proposal merely be-
cause II Is advanced by Missionaries.
II given scheme is proposed, look
at It on its merits, and. in considering
1t, disregard formulas. 1t does not
matter in the least who proposes It,
or why. II 1t. seems good, try 1t.
If It proves good, accept it; other
wise, reject 1t. There are plenty of
men calling themselves Socialists
with whom, up to certain point, it
is quite possible to work. IL the next
step IS one which both we and they
wish to take, why OF course take 1t,
without any regard to the fact that
our views as to the tenth step may
differ. But, on the other hand, keep
clearly in mind that, though 1t has
been worth while to take one step,
this does not In the least mean that
II may not be highly disadvantageous
to take the next. It is just as foolish
to refuse all progress because people
demanding 1t desire at some points to
80 to absurd extremes, as 1t would be
to go to these absurd extremes sfmp-
" because some OF the measures adj
yocated by the extremists were wise.
The gravest wrong upon his coun-
try is inflicted by that man, what
ever his station, who seeks to make
his countrymen divide primarily Oh
the line that separates class from
class, occupation from occupation.
men of more wealth from men OF
less wealth. instead of remembering
that the only safe standard is that
which judges each man on his worth
as man, whether he be rich or
poor, without regard to his profess
sion or to his station in life. Such
IS the only true democrats test, the
only test that can with propriety be
applied In a republic. There have
been many republics in the past, both
in what we call antiquity and in what
we call the Middle Ages. They fell,
and the prime factor in their fall was
the fact that the parties tended to
divide along the line that separates
wealth from poverty. 1t made no
difference which side was successful
1t made no difference whether the
republic fell under the rule Of an oil
garchy or the rule Of a mob. In either
case, when once loyalty to class
had been substituted for loyalty to
the republic, the end of the republic
was at hand. There is no greater
need today than the need to keep
ever in mind the fact that the cleav-
age between right and wrong, be-
tween good citizenship and bad citi-
zenship, runs at right angles to, and
not parallel with, the lines Of eleav-
age between class and class, between
occupation and occupation. Ruin
looks us in the face II we judge
man by his position instead of judg-
ing him by his conduct in that posi-
ton.
And now, my hosts, word in part
ing, You and / belong to the only
two republics among the great pow
ers OF the world. The ancient friend
ship between France and the United
States has been, on the whole, sin
eere and disinterested friendship. A
calamity to you would be a sorrow
TO us But 1t would be more than
that, In the seething turmoil OF the
history of humanity certain nations
stand out as possessing a peculiar
power or charm. some special gift of
beauty or wisdom or strength, which
puts them among the immortals.
which makes them rank forever with
the leaders OF mankind. France Is
one OF these nations. For her to
sink would be loss to all the world,
There are certain lessons OF brillianee
and Of generous gallantry that she
40, faaah hoA4ar than anx. - he's a.