The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-02-13
Building, and
Those Who Build.

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Those Who Build.
Under the caption Of Building we
find the following from among the
many gems of Mr.. Ralph Waldo Elmer
son:
What builds the nations pillars high
And it's foundations strong?
What makes it mighty to defy
The foes that round it throng?
Not gold, but only men can make
A people great and strong;
Men who, for truth and honor's sake,
stand fas. and suffer long.
Brave men who work while others
sleep,
Who dare while others fly
They build nations pillars deep
And lift them to the sky.
The kind Of men Emerson speaks OF
we're to be found in plenty at the time
he wrote the above. In his time, men
big in heart, head and soul lead our
battles and directed the laying of the
foundation of our now powerful nation.
But more important still was to be
found among the followers of these
big leaders, the builder and the fight
err, made Of the same fine material as
distinguished those who wrote their
names high on the tablet of Time.
They were big, honest, pure, noble and
brave. They fought great fight, and
won, 1t was a great heritage they
left for posterity.
But what of their posterity? Are we
living up to the high standard set by
those who blazed the way for us? Are
we today, as big and generous and noble
of heart as those who fought, won ans
died before us that we might live in
peace and maintain this mighty and
priceless heritage?
We simply won't stand for pes
simism, much as the more Jealous op'
timists may be handicapped.
1t is true that your modern man is in
a mighty big hurry to make money;
it is true that the sparkle of the dollar
Is brighter and more enchanting than
ever before. 1t is true that oppression
of the weak by the strong still goes
on, Just as it has always done.
But. with all our sins, humanity is
better than at any previous period IN
the worlds history and is growing
better each year that comes.
Why Is this? All classes Of hui
manityfare better acquainted with one
another. The searchlight of civiliza
ton has penetrated the darkest and
remotest corners of the earth. The
heather of the Orient has learned that
there is more of the world than his
humble sphere, that there is mode OF
living other than by the chop-sticl
and herb route, and that there is g
Higher Power over creation than {
wooden god.
The whole world is simply in close
communion than 1t used to be. We
can converse with and visit oul
brother across the sea with more
dispatch lnan our IOFeldIuSIS COulu uC
much the same thing with thell
brothers in an adjoining state. AS The
human race grows older, it learns anC
loves more. The high tide of peace
between the great races Of men i:
upon us. We are not fighting anc
bleeding now, but are sweating anC
building. The world is in harmon!
now and the pendulum is swingin!
smoothly.
It's a great game-this final rush
The whole world is watching and ad
miring us of the western hemisphere
The others want to see the granC
fnish-yes, finish, for mankind mus
rest when it has exhausted America.
The Emerson edict was set high, bu
America has measured up to it well
so we'll in fact that the dream o
Bishop George Berkeley has beer
realized.
Let's read what he said when thit
nation was but babe, so to speak:
The Muse. disguised with an age anC
cline
Barren of every glorious theme,
In Sistant lands now waits bate