Grand Forks daily herald., 1914-09-29

Because they are too Impressed
with prevailing definitions Because
they take Europe's standards as final.
Because they forget that culture and
art are terms that are forever en-
largeing-forever in need OF newer
and broader definitions.
Once culture meant classics. Sci
ence had small part in it. Then sci
ence made herself place and the
definition was broadened. Once mu-
sic meant a certain thing. Wagner
came. violated the rules and broaden
ed the definition of musical art.
The same process goes on today. We
need new definitions to keep the terms
art and culture abreast of the condi-
tions they should represent Fixed
standards no more suffice today than
classical standards Of learning in the
schools
Americans need not hesitate to as
sert their own definitions when Eu-
ropean definitions seem inadequate or
hostile. They need not hesitate to
match the unquestioned fact that we
have the highest average of political
knowledge in this country against the
claim to culture represented by the
great European universities.
They are justified in declaring that
the genius to conceive and execute
works of vast utility-like great
transcontinental railroad--stands forth
as true an indication of culture in the
modern sense as the production of
learned historians, philosophers and
antiquarians
They are justified in adducing as
high evidence of culture-perhaps un-
matched abroad-the disinterested
conduct of our government on many
occasions representative of
the popular will: the return of trib-
utes to both China and Japan, the
giving and keeping OF our pledge to
take no advantage of Cuba's powerless
position.
They are particularly justified in
adducing as proof of culture-again
proof unmatched abroad-this gov
ernment itself: government without
ple' for the people. by the people;
government that could not exist with
out high level of political intelli
gence in the citizen; a government of
the type to which the worlds eman-
cipation surely leads.
They are justified in calling atten
ton to the fact that American culture
is not based-as many foolishly assure
ON what has been accomplished in
America alone: that it is built upon a
foundation of European culture
brought to these shores in early dsys:
that none of the early riches Of Euro
pean culture. particularly of England,
Is alien to-
America may well stress the fact
that the greater diffusion Of comfort
in this country furnishes a sound bas-
is for greater diffusion of culture.
Culture does not thrive on BLACK
bread" The independent citizen is
higher type than the land-thralled
peasant.
Finally. America may well point to
the conquering and reclaiming of al
most continent as evidence of high
ability. What European nation has
such monument to it's energy, en-
terprise, foresight and intelligence? :?
What people, save the Americans
have actually made their nation midst
a strange and savage wilderness?
Is this gigantic feat of hesitory less
important in the scale of culture than
writing history? Is it greater to Gre
ate or to examine and report? presi-
dent Wilson was right when he said
| that nation is as big as the obstacles
1t overcomes. This nation overce me
this tremendous obstacle: and the
great achievement it registered in the
soul and fiber of the nation.
1t is time for Americans to chal-
lenge the too narrow ideas of culture
OF the studios. the professors and an
tiquarians and of European critics. It
Is time to assert boldly that democra-
cy alone has a, cultural value that can
not be counterbalanced by the inten-
sitive cultivation of more or less fay