New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-12
AMERICA AND THE ARTS
Nv ROMAN ROLAND
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Nv faith is great in the high desti-
MES of America. And it is clear TO me
that the events Of to-day make more
urgent than before that these be real
lied. On our old continent civilization
is menaeed. It becomes Americas sol
emn duty TO uphold the wavering torch.
You have great advantages over the
European nations. You are free Of ira
ditions. You are free Of that vast load
Of thought, Of sentiment, Of secular
obsession. under which the Old World
groans. The intellectual fixed ideas,
the dogrnas Of politics and art that grip
us are unknown TO you. You may go
forward. unhampered, to your future;
while we, in Europe, sacrifice ours
daily TO quarrels and rancors and am
billions that should be dead. Europe
has found no better channel for its
genius than TO revive these quarrels;
to submit over and again to the tyran-
MES that they impose.
In art, also, you are more fortunate
than we. Our writers have perfection
OF form: they have attained great
precision of ideas. These qualities they
owe TO the firm basis Of our classical
traditions. But they have won them
not without sacrifice. How few of these
perfect craftsmen are sensitive and
free TO the infinite life Of the world!
Their spirit huddles in a hedged and
cultivated garden, injurious OF the
wide spaces beyond it. Only as the
river runs through their inclosure do
these artists understand 1t. The river
issues forth; its tide quickens; its
banks grow broad. 1t waters all the
world. And they remain Indifferent
behind.
How much greater Is your opportu-
nityl You have been born OF soil
that Is neither encountered nor shut in
by past spiritual edifices. Profit by
this. Be free! Do not become slaves
to foreign models. Your true model is
within yourselves. Your approach TO
It must be the understanding OF your
selves.
As for me, say 1t openly-not alone
is the ideal Of one nation too narrow
thing; even the ideal Of a reconciled
Europe, OF a united Occident, would be
too narrow thing.
The hour has struck for mankind to
begin its march toward the ideal sim
ply Of humanity-to begin II with con-
scious fervor, to suffer no exclusion.
Man must at last enter into health;
must at last enter into life. All Of art
and science must be his leader, and all
of humanity must be his goal. The
Asatic cultures-China, India-are be-
ing born anew. The Old and New
Worlds must bring forth the treasures
of their souls and place them in COM
mon with these equal treasures. For
all great expressions Of mankind sub
serve each other, complement each
other. And the thought Of the future
must be a synthess Of all the great
thoughts Of all the world.
To achieve this fertile union should
be the work of Americans. For 1t is
they who live between the seas that
battle the two great continents. 1t Is
they who live at the centre Of the life
of the world! This Is my dream.
You are fortunate. Your life is
young and abundant Your land Is vast
and free for the discovery Of your
works. You are at the beginning Of
your journey, at the dawn Of your day.
There is in you no WEAKNESS Of the
yesterdays; no gatherings Of the
Behind you, alone, the elemental
voice of great pioneer, in whose mes
sage you may well find an almost
legendary omen Of your task to come
your Homer: Walt Whitman.
Surge ct Age.