Evening star., 1914-07-26
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR JULY 2s. 1914
AMERICAN IDEALS OF TODAY
Continued from page 4

service rules, than 1t is to pass statute OF
Importance to the whole nation.
One of the prevalent misconceptions of
the present day is the feeling that candidates
for office are accustomed to go about with
pockets full of money seeking persons whom
they may corrupt. Naturally an Office
seeker desires to be elected; but he has no
ambition to conduct an expensive campaign
or to eXpend in securing his election an
amount greater than the salary attached to
the Office he is seeking.
At the very outset of his campaign he is
confronted by the absolute indifference of a
large element of the voters to their political
obligations. They are loath to leave their
business or their homes for the few minutes
required to register and to vote. 1t is neces-
sary to employ 3hustlers' to remind them
of election day and the polling hours and to
furnish automobiles and other conveyances
for taking them to the booths. The can
didate would be glad to avoid the expenses
involved in these services.
In a city not far from New York promi-
nent literary man recently ran as reform
candidate for Congress. A political club in
the city sent him word that the cause of
tariff reform would be materially enhanced
if he would finance an entertainment for
them and contribute keg of beer for the
occasion.
4'he average business man pays no atten-
ton to politics. When campaign opens
and bands begin to play, professions to
march, and orators to hold forth in crowded
halls, he may give the matter passing notice
and vote on election day: only to drop off
into indifference again. This creates the
bosses and gives the bosses their chance.
Left in full possession of the field all the re-
mainder of the time, they mold things to
suit themselves, lay wires for control, pick
"a
eye to their own benefit. President Har-
rison once said that neither the trainers of
our Constitution nor any set of men that
ever lived could devise instruments so good
that the intelligent, patriotic citizen could
go away and leave the government alone.
ANOTHER question is, What is popular
1 opinion? It is not the voice of the
noisiest and most clamorous, or the demand
of the most selfish and insistent. 1t is rather
the opinion of the more quiet and undemon-
strative. 1t cannot be said that the ocean is
composed solely of the few breakers that
pound noisily on the shores: it is rather the
great, quiet depths beneath, of which we are
SO sternly reminded by some great tragedy.
And after all the unthinking are but mi
nority of the public.
Despite the insistence of pessimists and
cynics, the world is undoubtedly improving
The change is manifest even in individual
character. In the days of our fathers there
was likely to be little distinction between
profession and conduct. There was little
independence of thought, and men showed
more unquestioned faith in the opinions of
those elected to positions of honor and au-
thority. The frivolities and amusements of
life were frowned upon, particularly by those
Of strong secular convictions. Our views have
become more liberal and more reasonable,
and despite occasional outbursts of emotion
al hysteria we are growing better and strong
er. But no one has {, patent upon this up
lift. 1t belongs to the logic of the times.
The people as whole are sound and in
telligent, and above all they have strong
sense of justice. They will not be long led
astray by the faker, nor will they tolerate
indefinitely the humbug. The traditions
of the American people people are sound,
and their ideals will endure when the dynas-
ties of old are decayed and forgotten Even
that restlessness which is characteristic of
our people furnishes the basis for the most
helpful progress. The philosopher Pascal
once said that two-thirds of the troubles of
this world were due to mans inability to sit
still in room. But it is this same restless
ness that has furnished the basis of our am
bition and accomplishments as a nation and