New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-07
1t Has as Many Definitions as There
Are Men to Define H-Like Love.
1t is What Man Makes 1t,
Be He Priest or
Politician.

= HAVE the profoundcst faith in the funda-
mental Qualities OF our people; first their
Il good will toward one another and toward
all the world; second their ability in the long
rur to think straight. and, third. their inherent
love Of fair play. The core OF the people is
sound, because the best American traditions
are thoroughly inbred in them. We have, OF
course. our own defects but they are not
greater defects than those Of other nations.
Tic faults Of autocrsoy ere much more dan
eerous 70 the world than ours, the chief o.
which have elsewhere enumerated as
"Sloth and Greed and Waste
The sateless gorgons Of democracy
These faults make US pay dearly for the
blessings attendant upon our system, and
they will continue TO do so until the conscience
and the Imagination of our people are more
thoroughly aroused and become more OF an
everyday affair.
Speaking as a man OF letters, Il seems TO me
that I would better place imagination before
conscience as it is the imagination which shrs
the conscience. Place before our people two
courses OF action, clearly made out, and they
will invariably choose the better. And yet
how difficult it is for US TO imagine the better
coursel | cannot but think that the culture
of the imagination is one OF the most important
duties of the time since il is only Imagination
that can coordinate the affairs OF to-day with
The affairs OF the past and thus awaken IN us
desire for ideal action.
have said that our chief faults make US pay
early for our chief blessings under demo
-stic form Of government. This is not neces-
lily true Of democracy as we are accustomed
call the republican or representative form
r. government. France, for instance is so IN
eoctrinated with respect for ideas that it main
aims an atmosphere of vitality and alertness,
whatever may be the vagaries OF ITS pohtlcs'
What is il that makes it necessary Tor US to
Sc continually keying up the national interest
n political matters? What is it that made it
2ossible that in the election of the last week
here should have been an abstention OF per
haps 100000 votes, not due merely to the acct
dents % absence during registration timer
Whatever one may think OF this the time is
certainty opportune for a revival OF American
ism Of the truest type. By this mean an
Arer;csnisn that will make every man more
sensitive TO his individual responsibilities, more
willing 70 speak out against abuses and in
Anericanism also that will make us proud OF
the things Of which we ought to be proud
the sacrifices OF those, whether soldiers or
civilians. who have given themselves to the
salvation or the progress OF the country.
like 70 think for instance, OF the fine things
that we have lately done in diplofnacy-of
John Hays stand for the open door in China;
of the return of the Boxer indemnity OF the
faith we kept with Cuba in withdrawing IN
accordance with our promise though even our
friends in Europe doubted both out Intention
and our policy; and lastly our reassertion OF
the public faith in the repeal OF the Panama
tolls exemption.
The recently formed organization to be
known as the American Society, federation
of national unity, will, l am sure. aim as
much TO lay stress on the achievements and
the virtues of our people as upon any OF our
weak points that need to be strengthened. In
, standing for American ideals it will define
these ideals and call 10 its support all the
many other societies with patriotic traditions
that are doing so much to conserve the best
thought and purpose of the people.
One very hopeful circumstance is the quick
D., perception Of Americans of the real issue in
y, volved in the European conflict. Quite aside
!. from any trade ambition or competition, the
contest narrows itself down to the difference
between democracy and autocracy. Our sys-
tenn is based upon a belief that the people are
the source Of power-that whatever functions
=. their officials may have are delegated and
- hduciary The government exists for the peo
pie and not the people for the government.
The principle OF autocracy is, on the contrary,
- that the state is the source OF power which II
4. graciousy coles out to the people who exist
TO magnify and multiply its functions. So long
&C. as Americans react sensitively great ques-
tons such as this there need be no doubt as
TO their fundamental soundness. What we
need is that the reaction should be as quick in
our own emergencies, great and small, so that
patriotism may become living principle.
- Robert Underwood Johnson.