The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-28

World kinsmen do not enjoy, but also
expose us to temptations which our
Old World kinsmen do not share, at
! least to anything like the same degree
FINALLY, there are peculiar needs
of our own, which it is necessary that
we meet in new fashion. These
needs may often be of Numerically
opposite character. The need of one
class. or of one period, may be wholly
different from the need of another
class, or of all classes at another time
For instance, it is a curious fact that
in our New World the strain of over
hard conditions during the pioneer
days is apt to be succeeded by the
even more dangerous strain of over
easy conditions when once the pioneer
days have been passed; the danger to
the sons is the opposite of that which
menaced the fathers; and yet the one
danger is almost as menacing as the
other.
I'm the same fashion in every one
of our great modern industrial com
munitieS the dangerous strain on the
very poor is in large part not merely
totally different from, but the exact
reverse of, the no less dangerous
strain on the very rich the dangers
are the exact opposite one of the 9TH
err; and nevertheless each is danger
so serious that if not grappled with
it may spell national ruin Again, no
Old World communities are immune
from all sense of outside danger to
anything like the extent that is true
here and what is true of danger from
outside sources is true to an only less
decree as regards risk and effort and
toll within: and no student of history
needs to be told that immunity from
danger, however desirable, always
means that there is need of guarding
against the risk of softening of fiber |
Character Needed for Success.
''In consequence, it is true that, not
withstanding all our advantages ana
opportunities, there is at least as
much danger, not of crushing disaster
but of slow decay or failure TO al
vance so far as concerns our peoples
here in the two Americas, as IS the
case among the nations of the OId
glorious spirit to be blind to this
patiently ominous fact. If we are true
to ourselves, if we possess the WISDOM
and the virile strength to make the
before us, in our several nations
future which cannot be generally par
alleled among Old World nations
whose opportunities are necessarily
less But if we are untrue to our
selves. if we sink into slothful ease or
make our ideals those of Vapld or
vicious excitement, then there is
chance that we shall make a 1allure
all the more lamentable because OF
the fact that such great success might
have been ours. To avert this failure
and to achieve the success which is
ours if we only have the power 70
but one thing above all others, char-
acter.
mo other trait, in any nation, can
take the place of a high average or
personal character among the 1nd1-
ViduaIs, the men and women, who
make up that nation. I am firm be-
lever in using the power of the peo-
pie in their collective capacity-that
is. through the governmental the
fullest extent to further the common
interest; and I hold that the ability
thus to cooperate in effective action
is one of the greatest tasks of the
strength of individual character in a
nation. But such combined action.
such use of the powers of government
in the interest of all citizens, can new
er succeed unless it is based on h1gh
average of character in the individual
citizen Governmental action can sup
plement, and thereby immensely in
crease, the productive efficiency or
such individual character; but it can
never be a substitute for it; and if the
average citizen is lacking in character,
the governmental system in which he
is the predominant unit is certain to
break down.
Elements of Efficiency.
by character 1 mean the sum of
those qualities, distinct from the pure
ly intellectual qualities, which are es-
sential to moral efficiency. Among
them are resolution, courage, energy,
power of self-control combined with
in taking the initiative
and assuming responsibility, and a just
regard for the rights of others, togeth-
er with unf1inching determination to
oneself to succeed no matter what OBJ
stacIes and barriers have to be beat
en- down-these qualities, and qualities
such as these are what rise to our
minds when we speak of a man or a
woman as having character, in contra
distinction to one who possesses only
intellect. There is, moreover, one quail
ty which perhaps strictly speaking IS
as much intellectual as moral, but
which is too often wholly lacking IN