The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-09-22
Radical Action Is
Needed in America
New Conception Of Duty
on Part Of The People
10 Necessary
BY JAMES E. CLARK
BY JAMES E. CLARK

hently, or even temporarily saved as n
nation, there must be new concep-
ton OF duty, aud n clear realization of
our position rs people, and then a
deep-set resolution to make radical
changes in our mode of living. The
realization must come TO nm over
whelming majority of Americans; sac
rifices must be made by all classes of
both sexes. The womanhood of Amer
ica can do quite as much in bringing
about the necessary revolution as can
the men.
Just as Israel Putnam left the team
hitched to the pillow in the furrow to
hasten to the defense of his country,
SO must this generation turn from its
present pursuits or the republic will
fail.
The signs OF the coming change are
plain for whoever will read them. Ma
tons are like men. There is scarcely
community ia the United States to-
day that does not possess individuals
whose lives give open proof of the say
ing that its only three generations
from shirt sleeves TO shirt sleeves"-a
hOmely way OF saying that the wealth
a man acquires by his industry and
which wealth releases his sons and
grandsOns from similar application,
finally reduces the latter to the shirt
sleeve lev4I on which the foundation
Of the fortune was laid. But the third
generation is handicapped by loss Of
energy and by luxurious tastes devel-
oped I'm the day OF aflluence.
Wealth brings relief from strife,
then luxury and indolent ease. which
dims the vision and lowers the mental
and physical man.
Nations Like Individuals.
In the history of the nations there
are similar cycles of time. First, there
is the formative period when the veal
thy are few In number and work is
well-nigh universal. Then after other
stages, comes the era of great wealth.
of many pleasures Of n numerous leis-
ure class, with brain power weakened
and the desire for ease fashiOning am
pie excuses TO avoid effort involving
personal sacrifice. AS nation, the
people Of the United States are well
within the latter stage.
The proof Of this statement Is to be
found on every hnnd-in the existence
of great leisure class; in the ease
with which the average man and wom-
an may gain luxurious livelihood with
small effort, but most of all, in the ire
mendously important and significant
fact that we have millions of persons
who are actually nonproducers. Some
OF our greatest industries are devoted
principally or wholly to the pleasures
Of the masses, and the circumstance
that these industries give employment
and high wages to many hands does
not alter the truth of the statement
that we are following with swift haste
the pursuit OF mere pleasure-a fools
paradise! Already we are weak, soft,
and flabby and almost hopelessly
welded 10 pleasure just as were other
great nations when they fell prey to
less refined, but more vigorous people
who coveted the wealth Of the highly
civilized. The yellow peril is more than
n catch phrase-it Is a horrible real
ity.
Tyre and Carthage, great I'm their
day, even as we are in our own passed
away and period Of great wealth pre-
ceded the decline.
Jerusalem was destroyed md It's
people scattered.
Greece was conquered and alb
sorbed by Rome, and the Roman
empire, once the conqueror, was dis
membered and Its glories finally ex-
tinguIshed.
Assyria, Niniveh, Babylon, the Persia
OF Darius and Xerxes fell into decay
and Egyptian civilization was under
mined and fell on the heels Of wealth
and ease. There Is still another list Of
fallen nations in Asia and In India,
and coming nearer home there is Spain
stripped of her old power and wealth.
Indications Of letharoy.
The proof Of the fact that the United
States is entering into the lethargy,
which from the beginning of the world
has attended wealth and ease, is found
in many familiar conditions Of nation
al life. There Is, for instance, the
lackadaisical interest taken by the av-
erage man in national defense, and re-
iected In waste Of two years after
the weaknesses OF our defenses be-
came known.
What nation save one that was los
ing its virillty would tolerate such
condition ut q time when the whole
world Is aflame as we now find In our
own navy? We have no less than 20
ships still on paper or on the stays;
we have no less than 20 more ships OF
all classes and kinds at anchor, tied
up or out OF commission, because we
have no crews to man them. The navy
is short from $4,000 to 10000 men and
we are going to build more ships. But
at the same time there is no dcarth Of
men for Our great fleet of luxurious
pleasure yachts plying the coast wa
ters and the inland seas; no deGrth Of
men to run the great feet of pleasure