River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-09-21
Secret of True
National Greatness
By Rev. JAMES p. MARTIN
Pastor of Hyde Park Presbyterian
Church. Denver. Colo.

upon the state of things Calm judg-
ment would lead us to see many de-
fects and crudities in this passing era.
Our history as nation, our wondrous
tales of fabulous wealth and unique
physical advancement, parallels and re-
sembles an individual who, fastening
TO get wealth and power and to be
master of applying science to indus
try, has left vulnerable points in his
own education; is like the man who,
gathering generously, is spending
equally prodigally. We have grown
big so fast that we have become awe
stricken at our own size.
We might we'll sit at British feet
and learn. We are confused of face at
the thought of poverty and sQualor.
when our German friends are APP
are shameless because of our conceit
and arrogance in our daily contact
with men, but 1.-The little brown man"
Of the east Is thoughtful here and
might teach us maners. What shall
we say Of child labor; factory life in
general; mining horrors; congestion
In city life; ravages of disease? We
surely cannot count ourselves as per-
feet, nor to have even attained unto
our high calling.
We need right now, less or pyrotech-
MICS, whether as fireworks or vain idle
bubbling from some so-called patriot
the measure of whose patriotism is de-
f0rToiY1 nH 11xy fhn 9th ~ {V,on ND
pidity of accumulation in feeding at
the public crib.
To my mind we need most to re-
fleet soberly and deliberately as indi-
viduals every day the country over.
The first thinking should be not of
what other men ought to do, or of
what investigating committees may
discover, and so on, but of what each
one as a citizen of ordinary capacity
and intelligence can accomplish as he
forms that part of the national entity
confined within the limits of home or
neighborhood, town or city in which
he lives and votes. The true, sincere
dedication of patriots own self to
country after serious concern for its
needs, may accomplish our Utopian
dreams and effect results that shall
stand forever.
That such dedication may be of
profit and glory, each one has a stern
duty incumbent upon him. He must
make the most possible of himself and
project himself far into the mass of
the body polite. That brings me to
the theme Of the morning. The secret
lies right here. To have a great ma
ton, let each individual make himself
wise, strong and self-supporting. We
are not saying too mNch when we re-
fleet that the test of every institution
Is the promotion of greatness in the
individual.
The holy word of God stands for the
glory of the individual, saying, Let
every man hear his own burden"
Christ's estimate of the individual
gives intensity to our thought. While
the world is busy trampling men under
foot, Christ is busy lifting them up.
Christ did not consider external condi-
TONS He went straight to mans soul
and stampeded 1t, made in Gods
image"
Midway between selfishness and dis
aster stands Christ's philosophy, Let
every man bear his own burden"
which asks each man to love his fell
lows and his God and thus become a
great individual, gathering wisdom
and goodness as he goes forth. In In
dividual excellence we have the key
of all problems, the solution or all
vexed questions, the clew OF every
maze.
The secret of the increasing wage
comes not so much by shortened hours
or laws of regulation as by the excel
lence of the individual in doubling the
quality and quantity of his work. When
we will, we can double our wages, as
q nation. Too many of us are buying
tools of heavy labor when We should
be developing intellect. Rely on self.
Go early, stay late, give your nights to
study, climb, make yourself tndtspen'
sable. save the waste. Your fondest
hope is then not beyond your grasp.
The difference in men is not made by
unequal laws, but by difference In
measuring ones own value.
Which is better, to bring all men
down to common level, or to lift up
the lowest to the level Of the strong
est. wisest and greatest? To return
to our scheme, the secret of national
greatness lies in personal culture, per-
sonal happiness, character and worth.
The survival of the f1ttest is ours here.
The boundary between strength ana
weakness lies there. The strong man
Wills to be stronger and becomes so.
The weak man is content to stay as
he is, and so loses his estate.
Give yourselves to preparation for
the last grand struggle. Ten years Of
fitting for one year of sublime living
is none too great Such is time saved.
We need Pauls in our life so that
the faith may be spread. We want
an ideal nation-ideal in equal rights
for all: Justice, that none shall suffer;
a square deal, with handicaps for none
10 the advantage of another. The pur.
nose of God in history is to exalt man
hood to its place of glory, where all
shall be "sons of God" Behold now
are we the sons of Cod" But are we
living as sons or as servants? Let US
make ourselves worthy Of our high
calling by living as God would have
lis live, for of truth righteousness
exaIteth a nation, but sin is 10
proach."