Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-12-01
ARNOLD BENNETT ON AMERICA
CPortland oregonianD

Nihi hIANh VIZ hNft'NH'f
II will not do 20 say . Arnold Ben
nett that as a foreigner who has been
In this country but a short time he
does not understand our civilization
As a mattor Of fact, travellers who
make brief visits here are apt to un-
derstand us a great deal better than
We do ourselves al least In some par
ticulars. They are Ike onlookers AT
a game 4 chess who see all sorts OF
moves which escape the notice Of tho
players This Is singularly true OF
Bennett, who. though no is alien TO
some Of our institutions, is not by
any means allen TO our blood ana
feelings. He is better democrat than
some Americans, and sees our deficit
encies In the line Of popular govern
ment with depressing distinctness. We
have been calling ourselves the most
democratic nation in the world 50
many years that It lowers our pride
sadly 60 hear from an Englishman
that his country is ahead OF us, and
a long way ahead, as far as popu-
lar rule is concerned. still no Amer''
can who is willing to face the fa'ts
can deny that II Is true. The British
Official who corresponds most nearly
TO our president is the prime minis
ter. ana he can he turned out Of 0f-
flee at any moment by a hQstile vote
in parliament. Again. no British
Judge can thwart the will Of the peo-
pie expressed in an act Of parliament.
while the Will OF the American peopl9
can be baked by any one Of a score
OF judges, some petty and some ex-
alted.
The unwllngness to face undenia-
BILE facts Mr. Bennett declares TO bc
chara cteristic Of all the English
speaking nations. He finds 1t in En-
gland and just as much or even more
OF II here. The tendency to look
upon a fact as non-eNistent because
we have agreed not to talk about it.
has long been predominant in onr
life, both political and social, That
habit of this sort is a real danger
must be evident TO anyone who takes
the trouble to think about it. AS far
as social hygiene is concerned. the
danger has already come to light and
we see the public health seriously
threatened by disease of vice which
have been allowed to spread unchec eek
ed under the protecting shadow OF
the prudery which we complacently
call purity" The same has begun
to happen In politics. Our inveterate
habit Of declaring that everything was
perfect and no changes could ever be
needed in our institutions has brought |
us to the verge of revolutionary vio-
lence in some directions. Arnold Ben. |
nett charltably calls this form OF M
tonal conceit lack Of public spirit
Many of our best people take no active !
part in politics because they sincerely |
believe that we have arranged the |
machinery Of government with such |
exquisite omnlscience that it will for.
ever run perfectly without any atter
ton To his mind our national IN
difference to politics is the most strlk- !
ing sign Of our lack Of public spirit,
but ne sees many others.
Still 1t IS likely that Arnold Ben
nett goes farther than the facts war
rant In belittlng our public spirit.
There is a good deal OF 1t here and
the supply is growing 1t Is use.
1 less to deny that in former years ow
countrymen have been too much o.
cupied with making money to think |
great deal OF the common welfare
but that condition Is passing away,
and on every side we see the altruis-
tic spirit springins up Hitherto 1t
has taken the form of gifts to col
/ leges and social work in the cities,
/ but now Its sphere is rapidly enlarg-
ing. The business mems club In
| Portland, which are turning their at
tention to almost every conceivable
aspect of the public welfare. illustrate
new and hopeful tendencies Of tho
time.
| -s
Possibly Both.
Yes, smoking Is an expensive hab- !
ii. When one gives his friends cigars
! all the year around his loss is no 1T