The Washington herald., 1911-04-12

"Nursed in the lap of luxury, yielding
to the enervating influence of a material
prosperity, there are moments when
fear the decay of the Roman republic
may find some parallel in our own ma
ton. The antidote for the poison that
remotely, / grant-threatens the virility
and vigor Of the greatest government
that ever was devised, is the spirit of
courage and endurance that animated
your ancestors, when, lighted by the
same vision that guided Paul of old. they
crossed the sea to found a new home in
the uncongenial environment of inhos-
pitable savages and wild beasts
Such were the sentiments Representa-
tive F. M. Nye, of Minnesota. expressed
i'll his eloquent address to the members
OF the District Society of Mayfiower De-
scendants, who were the guests of Mr..
and Mrs. Thomas S. Gale. at their resi-
oence. 800 S street, last night.
Representative Nye took for his theme
the needs of the republic. and the fire.
quent and hearty applause that greeted
him at every step showed how heartily
his speech was appreciated. and how
deeply it touched his audience.
Too Much Legislation.
Men of to-day place too much re-
lance in legislation as a panacea for
the social ills said the speaker. ''All
over the country men are banded to-
gcther in organizations that have for
their avowed purpose the securing of
government aid: of getting appropriations
for this and the other thing. vainly re-
lying upon the paternal aid of the gov
ernment of both nation and of State.
rather than working out their own saliva
ton by the exercise of those manly vir-
tues that lie at the root of all human
and national progress. We go on null
tipIying farms. and land. and carriages,
and belongings at a rate that amaZes the
world. Property! Property! Property" is
the cry all over the country, while men
do not stop to realize that the things
of this life that are most worth while
are the unseen things.
But there are signs that the Ameri-
can people are now taking thought OF
the situation that Confronts them, and
of the great principles for which this
government stands. They are getting
a sense of proportion. the lack of
which has ever been the crying de-
feet in our national character. They
are beginning to recognize that the
greatest of all learning and scholar
ship is reverence. They are now
learning that the strength OF the ma
tion is the home and its influence.
The nation has been aptly likened to
a tree whose trunk is the home: its
three important branches the school.
the church. and the ballot-bOX: its fol-
iage reverence and generosity: its
flowers liberty. equality, and justice,
while its fruit will be peace, plenty
and purity.
But the day is coming when justice will
demand and will see to it. that the toll
ing masses are admitted to fair share
of the profits that accrue from their
handiwork Workers will share in the
product of hand and brain. and no man
will be permitted TO take from the fin
ished product more than he has con-
tributed.
Il do not think socialism will ever
come. do not fully understand its aims
they are so vague-but there will !Ecvt-
tably come that justice that is due 10
the members of a common society, none
of whose individuals can be touched or
harmed without injuring the whole body.
But the spirit Of the Pilgrim fathers
has lived throughout the history OF the
The laws that they formulated
are as fair. as just. and as satisfying
as the principles of the Declaration OF
Independence itself.
But the leaven is working. Men are
taking thought. I am sure that should
an emergency demand the best that the
people of the natiGn have TO offer, that
best will be forthcoming now or in the
future as it never has in the past l
sometimes think that another experience,
another emergency would be good thing
for the vigor, virility, and welfare OF the
republic, that the true principles upon