The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-12-31


has its foot upon the threshold
One thing especially marks the year
1912. Throughout the world the new
humanitarian spirit, long felt by those
who watch events and currents of
thought, has shown itself in action,
often OF tie most dramatic sort
On the other side Of the world lay
Ctiaa, in the grip Of Confueianism
inert because, as we were told, the
teaching of Confucius was perfect and
consequently made thought superfu-
GUS and change a crime. Yet the seed
sown by generations of alert Chinese
and by thousands of devoted Euro
peans and Americans finally germi-
mated. The Manchu Emperor has
been deposeds a republic has been de-
clared. Not deep as yet are the foun-
dations of the new government in the
understanding and affections of the
great. stolid mass of the Chinese peo-
pie; but nevertheless, the nation has
taken the first great step-it has rec
ognized the need of change.
OF what enormous strides Japan has
taken on the path in which China is
now setting an uncertain foot the
death of the Mikado who turned the
face of his people toward modern
ideals has come to remind us. And it
is good to remember that what re-
vived and reinyigorated the ancient
empire is the stimulating spirit of
America
Even in autocratic Russia, the year
has seen a triumph of constitutional
ism, a step toward popular rule. A
Duma has lived its full appointed time,
new one has been peacefully chosen.
The event marks the real beginning
of stable constitutional government;
for, although the fourth Duma is ac-
cused of being, and may be, reaction
ary, yet it is a working body, an in
strument sure in time to pass, ar
parliaments have ever done, into the
hands of the people.
AS despotism is disappearing from
Russia, so, too, is Oriental barbarism
retreating from the Balkans. The
Christian peoples of the peninsula, an
mated, as The Companion in this very
issue strikingly points out largely by
American ideals, have put an end
there to Moslem rule.
And what of our own home-these
United States? There is a new spirit
here, intangible, Elusive, but none the
less preceptible by all who are intelli
gent and sensitive. For a generation
after the Civil War the American peo
pie gave themselves to exploiting the
material resources of the continent
We became money-mad, and lost fol
a season and in a measure that spirit
, of equity which alone dignifies the
, possession of wealth Not until re
, Gently did we, as a people, begin tC
see that great wealth is often hard O
heart and devoid of understanding
that men and women and even little
children were being sacrificed t
greed; that money was learning t.
, talk with a voice so loud as to drowT
, the cries of the suffering and the ap
nao1 of human rights
But when we did begin to see, lead
ers arose who demanded that the ad
/ mitted evils be reformed. They have
f been confined to no political party
= they have been committed to no par
ticular creed; but all without excep
= ton have placed their emphasis OF
= the man rather than on the dollar. The
number of these leaders has beer
E steadily increasing until, this las
z year, they made themselves felt il
: divers ways throughout the country
: Their influence has shown itself il
l advanced legislation by many of th'
! states and by the national government
, and it has appeared in the decisions
) of high courts of justice. 1t gives tn
year 1912 a noble place on the calen
D dar of human aspirations.
The future? We may be sure tina
the aspirations of democracy will no
= be stined The man is, indeed, create
than the dollar. aud human right
T greater than the rights of property
t but since the one is included in tn
I other, and property rights are n
more than human rights in property
D we must see to it that the old Amer
lean virtues of thrift and ambition
+ the laudable desire to conquer, unaide
a and alone, an honorable place amon
our fellows shall survive and shall no
I go unrewarded; that democracy shal
Z, not degenerate into anarchy,
Wherever democratic ideals hay
gained ground, the success of tn
> Great Republic-its common sense it
rob