The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-29

AS compared with the present circum-
stances, a trivial character. And my
thoughts of necessity look forward
I because l was struck the other day
by question which was put to me
by newspaper representative. He
raid: i suppose. Governor, next
Christmas (meaning the Christmas
OF last wcek) will be the happiest
Christmas Of your life I said, My
young friend, evidently you have new
er been elected president Of the
United States Can you see how a
man can have a light heart looking
forward to the responsibilities Of that
great office, particularly at this time
4 because. my friends. We are clearly
entering upon new age. i do not
mean merely We OF the United States,
/ mean that the world lis facing the
future with a new attitude, and q
new outlook upon the opportunities
of life.
Drama of the World.
1t Is singular how the drama OF
the world Is cast, as II each century
were an act in tile dramas, and these
early years OF the twentieth century
we are again assuming the attitude
which we assumed in the beginning
OF the nineteenth century. The nine
tsenth century with all its associa-
| lions of the setting up Of a free gov
eminent In America. looked forward
to an age in which humanity, the
rank and file Of men. should be serv-
ed. and honestly served, by the lnsti-
tutions OF government But we had
set up this happy experiment in a
country so abundantly furnished with
wealth. so extraordinarily provided
wit hopportunity for all sorts and
conditions Of men that suddenl. we
got drunk with the mere wine OF
prosperity. and for little while for
got that our mission was not to pile
up great wealth, but to serve man
kind in humanity and justice.
But through this long century
during which II has seemed from
time to time as We were forgetting
what America was set up to do, the
world has slowly come about to the
point of view that the fine men who
set the government OF the United
States up had in the beginning. We
are now aware that We are not GO
ing to be served by institutions; that
more finely conceived constitutions do
not constitute the body Of liberty;
that the bo6y of liberty can be had
only in the use of institutions 10 serve
the permanent needs Of the rank and
file of men.
so that we are learning again that
the service Of humanity is the bust
ness OF mankind. and that the bust
ness of mankind must be set forward
by the governments which mankind
sets UP, in order that justice NAV
done and mercy. The world. I say,
Ia turning now az never before this
conception of the elevation OF hn
mainly OF men and women. I mean
not of the preferred few. not of
those who can be superior wits or
unusual opportunity 10 struggle 10
the top, no matter whom they tram.
pie under foot, but the rights of
men who cannot struggle to the top
and who must, therefore, be looked
to by the force OF society, for they
have no single force by which they
can serve Themselves
Heart In Government.
There must be \ heart in govern-
ment There must be a heart In the
policies Of government. And men
must look to II that they do unto
others N they would have Others do
unto them. This used to be, and has
long been the theme for the dis
course Of Christian ministers, but ~
has now come to be part OF the boun-
den duties Of ministers Of stats.
This v the soIsmnity that comes
upon man when no known that No
r about u b UlothaA VIII fhn -,