Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-11-29
'AMERICAN|SK
THEME
. ON THANKSGIVING
Continued from page five)

Indifference is one of our greatest
perils. 1t is sometimes born of salts
faction and sometimes Of dissatisfac-
ton. More than 10 per cent OF our
voters are absent from the polls even
in a presidential campaign. 1t is diff
cult to secure the attendance at the
polls OF even so per cent of the voters
when great constitutional questions
are at stake, despite the fact that
there is now an insistent demand for
easy and frequent amendments. We
are paying a fearful price for our in
Observation-Disclosures to municipal.
state and national affairs, indifference
to our schools, indifference to the
churches and public morals. Awake
thou that sleepest" is the cry of the
pulpit, the press and the publicist.
Another peril is radicalism. Many
are abroad advocating measures so
extreme that not only would the frame
work of our government be rebuilt, but
the very foundations would be re-
moved. These are quacK physicians
with imperfect diagnosis and with
remedies that could not stand the,
test of the Pure Food and Drug Act"
These irreverent radicalists may do
good by alarming US, but they are
blind leaders of the blind in attempt.
ing any constructive work. At heart
America is conservative. The very
few changes made in our constitution
prove this We have been satisfied,
often too well satifed. with the past
and made it our hitching post rather
than our guiding post. We are not
yet in mood to try every new scheme
and chase rainbows.
Racialism is more threatening
peril. The Anglo-Saxon Is proud and
exclusive. The white race feels and
proelaims its superiority over all 9TH
ers. This is very disturbing in ma
ton that embraces so many races and
peoples and tongues. In the South,
the negro has made rapid strides, SO
that now he owns $500, o00, 900 and is
wiping out the hliteracy percentage
far faster than any other race was
ever known to accomplish. The North
and South are now cooperating in.
solving this complex problem Of the
Industrial and political life Of the.
black man. The Indians are now gain
ing in population-the first time in
several decades-as we'll as in self-re-
spect and moral good. On the Pacific
we face the Oriental question, but the
nations of the Orient who owe so
much to America will deal with her
In q spirit of patience and fairness,
and the exchange OF scholarly and
honorable leaders together with the.
common aim Of the Occident and ORR.
ent in securing the frsest and most
efficient government win lead to q
speedy and peaceful solution. In the
eastern states the presence and the
prominence of the Jews have brought
racial antipathy and jealousy. In the
world at large the Jews number one
half of one per cent Of the population,
but Is per cent of all Jews live in
America and nearly 1000, 900 in New
York. Intelligent and aggressive, they
are most successful. They are loyal
moreover to our institutions. In the
Friday noon meetings Of the Educa-
tional Alliance, the great Jewish so
ciety of children and young people
founded by the Strauses and promoted
by such men as Jacob Schiff, the fol-
lowing salute Is always given to the
stars and stripes: =
Flag of our great republic, inspirer
in battle, guardian Of our homes,
whose stars and stripes stand for
bravery, purity, truth, and union, we
salute thee! We, the natives Of dis"
tant lands who find rest under thy
folds, do pledge our hearts, our lives,
our. sacred honor to love and protect
thee, our country, and the liberty OF
the American people forever"
Socialism is perhaps the least
threatening of Of the perils, for it is
not indigenous. Brought in from Eu-
rope, it has not developed robust lead
ership nor large proportions. 1t is a
mere episode of German Socialism and
according to the report submitted to
the German Socialists by one of their
leaders delegated to visit America and
report progress, The forces in Amer
lea are too centrifugal for the success
of Socialism. We have not there the
same background in national injus-
tees, nor the same spirit of bitter re-
sentiment against tyranny Every man
has too good a chance to get ahead
and leans on himself rather than on
the State" The fact is that European
immigrants who come to us ardent
Socialists leave that party within a
few years after their arrival, and new
recruits must come year by year from
abroad. If Socialism was merely AN
enthusiasm for humanity" then we
would bid it Godspeed; but it is a
method of government wholly adj
verse to our own, and it's spirit is too
irreligious and too destructive. The
most precious thing in the world is
the individual mind and soul with I'M
fettered capacity for service and
growth, and for this our government
stands 1t will not do for man what
he ought to do for himself. In Amer
lean democracy Socialism will never
find cOngenial soil.
To make sure and steadfast the pill
lars of Americanism and save from
the perils which threaten We need
revival of patriotism-not a mere
chaotic snaSm" which lasts but q