Evening journal., 1916-12-12

and obligation which we have had
thrust upon us.
Responsibility TO Americanism as
] understand it. is the incarnation of
faith in humanity; yea, all humanity
and ] would here disclaim anything
which would even suggest irreverence
when l say that he who believes In
his fellow man has faith in God.
) when we even suggest that We are
subject to responsibility 10 improve
our city, we admit that we are under
an obligation TO our city. that we owe
duty. sacred obligation to improve
our city.
when we say our city. take it we
mean a great deal 1t means your
city and my city and also the city Of
every other person who lives in the
city. and our comprehends all.
cannot understand how we could inn
prove Wilmington, without making IL
better place for every man. woman
and child in Wilmington to live.
am proud that l am a Wilmingtonian.
ana glad that my lot was thrown
here and I am more than proud; it is
a source OF profound thankfulness to
me which ] will not attempt here to
speak about, that here find an OPP
portunity in my humble sphere TO
work. in any way that I find. for the
betterment Of conditions. which make
not only for better Wilmington but
for a better human being.
There are those here before me
who have Wilmington traditions and
I sentimental attachments which [
know are very sweet to them. and
which should make Wilmington and
Delaware very dear to them. and such
things and such sentiments are very
sweet TO me even when at the time
? and place. I am not directly con-
!, nected with them, but I want to say
it is as a human being that I uti-
mately regard my responsibility and
obligation to improve my city and our
city.
II feel my responsibility to improve
/, our city because I want to make our
city, If possible. AS far as / am con-
cerned, the best place in the world
p to live, not only for men. but for
q every other person who can call this
our city. If I could make Whining
ton what I would have it. I am sure
3 the influence Of the achievement
would be felt around the world.
I Il believe in wide highways and
boulevards, and I believe i'm we'll paw
cd streets and roads leading every
where; credit 10 the town and state:
! ! believe in fine public buildings and
public squares. and fine historical So
cieties' and standing by the old land
= marks. / believe In all of these and
l am willing TO work for them and
, TO help 10 pay for them, as arduously
ana as willing as any man and wo-
r man to secure these. but there is
something else which have always in
mind and which make all these I
nave spoken OF subservient to. and
that Is the making Of conditions that
VIII make men-no other way can we
, achieve for our city.
Il believe the first consideration we
should have before us is the best pos
sibie houses for our people to live in.
and the best possible markets for the
people to secure their food in.
Responsibility to Americanism as
! understand it. and as ! said before
is the incarnation of human faith IL
humanity. 7 believe the American
government Is the best product OF the
heart and understanding OF men. ]
believe the. American government
more nearly responds 70 the Ameri
can manhood for its success. and who
will say that up-to-date the conn
, dence has been misplaced? With ;
world at war, we are at peace or n,
, near peace as the greatest Of the ma
tioss can be-with all other great ma
tions at war. This is the most i'm
pressive fact in the universe Of mer
= today Is it strange that the thought
: full attribute it to the genius of oul
' institutions?
"In our city We find our RESPONSE
I bility, and in our keeping we find tho
responsibility of feeding and housing
J thousands who cannot feed and house
themselves, and remember these thou
; sands are they upon whom depends
the success OF the only government on
I earth, as Gilbert Chesterton says
! which is built on an idea.
e. IF our city government is at fault
5 1t finds its reflections in poor streets
r bad markets, inadequate schools, a
tax rate which discourages the build
ing of tenement houses in which the
e people might live and housing be.
comes worse and worse.
"If. because We can pay the price
we are careless or Needless about oul
market conditions which minimiz,
the food supply and other conditions
e unsanitary. which make the food un
o wholesome. We will find these faults
OF ours reflected in the man who eat,
V the food and his offspring and our in
z situations depend as much upon brawI
e as they do brain and as much Of
IA more upon good stomachs and goo,
I. blood as they do on good books an,
10 good teachers and good sermons.
T. Are We under an obligation to i'm
IS prove our city? Have we a future
n Is there that in the past which car
make us look forward with hope an,
ri confidence? DO You believe that on
4. generation is inseparably connecte,
= with another and that as you inherit
% ed the accomplishments and the fail
" ures of your forefathers, and that yol