Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-02-28


The good Bishops hopes must GER
tainly prove true and be fulfilled. |
am reminded of an illustration used
by a great New York orator on an
occasion of a National Republican
an unpopular thing in Louisville,
think-convention held at Mime
apolis some years ago. He said
that during the progress of the civil
war the Southern troops came to a
swamp. The order rang out,
"Wade in and cross it," After they
had labored for some time with the
mire, one soldier turned to another
and said, Mike, ] think we have
struck this thing length WISE" That
Is how have struck Louisville, its
hospitality, its .geniality and its
oratory. Conviction is one of the
greatest forces of the world. When
an idea is taken into the mind of
an individual it influences his life
and character. We become what
we love. If we know and love what
is true and pure and beautiful, we
become true and pure and beautiful.
That is true of an individuals it is
true of people. An idea that is
strong and fresh, which gets into
the heart Of a people, naturally and
necessarily evolves a nation. The
people who left Europe tossed by the
harshness of despots and of despotic
majorities, sought kindly atmos-
pheres and broad freedom in Amer
lea. The idea to which they set
their hearts grew, and when the
providence of God excited them to
resist unjust aggression it offered
them an opportunity to crystalize
and give consistency to. that great
idea, liberty.
1t might have lain dormant or
died in the borning had it not found
the mind and heart of a genius to
express it and energize the forces
that could give it free and open
field.
We look back now to the per-
spectiye of another century and see
the figure, calm and stately. I'M
mortal, he lives not alone in the
pages Of. history, but In the cher.
fshed traditions associated with the
progress and life of that idea en-
bodied in our constitution. 1t orig
mated largely with him and 1t gave
him and his thought permanent
home. Washington and Liberty!
The one word calls up the other and
the dual association evokes men,
ories and stirs patriotism. Liberty
mans sacred right! Liberty to live
his life and to exercise his faculties,
to be himself, to think his own
thoughts, not what he will but what
In a oh mp N
to protect the fruits of his activity
Freedom-liberty, means security in
the exercise of these faculties, in the
play of these powers which make
man. That is the individual. But
every individual has a social side.
He is born to live in society; and
for the exercise of liberty he needs
protection. Here are two things
that are mutually repulsive-pro-
lection and liberty. Yet they must
be brought into harmony.
Men associate and form a nation
and recognize authority in order
that they may have protection. They
give up certain measure OF their
freedom. They sacrifice some of
their native liberty. Authority is
II naturally and neces-
sarily tends to Capitalization. That
is its danger. And no society is pro-
tected against calamity by mere
majority. Democracies have been
autocratic. despotic; and govern
ments despotic in form have been
magnificently liberal in administra-
tion and in the exercise of power.
SO that mere majority is no protec-
tion and consequently no guaranty
of continuance of liberty. Athens
went to ruin under the great liberal
in the days of Eubulus
Majorities helped Rome to ruin.
Her life was stopped before the
hordes devastated her
fair plains. Majorities paralyzed
the heart of Spain in the seven
teenth century and majorities grew
drunk upon the blood spilled In the
name of liberty in France in the
century. The majority
awoke from its dream TO realize that
there was less OF liberty and less of
fraternity than there had been be-
fore the cataclysm. Power is the
same whether II is vested in a King
or Emperor or President. II tends
to Capitalization. TO the destruction
OF individuality. and when majorities
barter liberty for protection against
incidental temporal ills they are
giving up a birthright which may
never be recovered. The greater
the Capitalization, the stronger the
government In its relation TO foreign
powers. but the weaker IL is as re-
CARDS national development.
The trainers of the constitution
gave us the largest liberty COM
oatible with a fair measure OF
security. We have never beer
strong In war and are not today, yet
The history OF our development 4
he marvel Of modern times, eco
1omical. educational and aesthetic
md the development OF true citizen
hip and manliness. Why, becauss
here the individual has larg'
MEASURE of Initiative. He has
Consciousness OF personal respons'
,ility and feels that dignity which
he proudest inheritance Of the fire.
nan.
Are we parted from the old ways
here is q growing school In or
uuUfrv xvIioI a. uruuu ~uI a a.