Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-03-02
CHURCH AND SUNDAY SCHOOL =
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

One OF the gravest problems OF
the age Ia the training OF people IN
the art OF self-government. Today,
at least In our land, every man Is q
sovereign. But to exercise arfgnt
the privileges and responsibilities IN
connection Herewith, he must
know how and be trained thereto.
When the United States established
a protectorate over Cuba. It was to
turn over to the Cubans tie priyll-
eyes OF self government at the ear
Hest possible moment, that II. when
the people should reveal their capac-
ity for 1t. In taking over Porto Rico
and the Philippine Isiands. It was
with the same idea; Ia fact. We have
practically promised the Filipinos
the exercise Of sovereign rights at
the earliest possible moment.
With a million immigrants pour
ing over our borders annually, many
OF whom have little or no knowl-
edge OF self-govarnment, We have an
acute problem upon u hands. be-
cause we 80 readily grant them the
franchise. Our public schools at
ford their children a nne training
ground for citizenship. In that there
In they become imhued with Amer
lean ideals and the American spirit,
and learn our customs and laws.
Too often, however. they do not also
receive there the moral instruction.
without which no amount OF knowl-
edge is really valuable. This Is
largely our fault. Az ID has put It,
"the church seems to regard public
education as a mandatory of intel
lectual individuals rather than as an
Institution for c%ultivating moral In
di%viduality."
Nevertheless, our public schools
are doiAs q Inv work ia ino lsain-
ing OF citizenship. One Brooklyn
school, In which nearly all the pu-
pills are either Of foreign birth or OF
foreign parentage, a complete sys-
tenn OF self-government has been In
vogue for the past Ave years. mod
eled upon our own municipal and
state governments. There are NOM
mating conventions, wherein the
Australian ballot ia used. and the
pupils elect their own mayors. SHEER
lifts, judges and other officers; they
have their legislative bodies and
courts. and even an organization
corresponding to U New England
town meeting. Under the supervis-
Ion OF principal and teachers. these
Pupils are prepared to take an active
part In politics when they are grad
Iuated into the world. But the best
part OF the system Is the matter Of
laelf-government, which Is thus early
woven into their lives.
The nubbin Of self-government is
1.-THE acknowledgment OF and the re-
Ispect for the rights OF others. No
social living worth the while Is pos
sible without this. Most men are
naturally selfish, and want their
own way. To realize that SOMEBODY
else has rights as well as yourself.
and to respect these rights. Is a long
step toward the exercise OF moral in
dividuality. Happy is that man who
needs no laws to restrain him, but
who imposes upon himself that re-
~straint with respect to others tina!
rests upon a Just realization of the
rights of all concerned. * Is posHi-
Bile for every man to train hiniseli
In this direction taking others into
counsel when his course seems In
idoubt. Ii was q Wise man who lons
ago advised US mot to think OF him-
Iself more highly than he ought;
but rather, mot looking each OF you
to his own things, but each Of you
also to things OF others"