Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-01-26
oRiNNELL PROFESSOR COMES
BACK TO sEARcHLIGHT CLUB
WITH THOUGHTFUL MESSAGE.
ANALYZEs ELEMENTS
OF NATIONS STRENGTH
Sees in Democratic Unity, Pioneering
Spirit, and Religious Ideals Pillars
Of Strength UNFOLDING National Life
Weakness Is Within Nation Rather
Than From Without It, Speaker Says.

American spirit said DR.. Edward A.
Steiner, of Grinnell, in a lecture be-
fore the Searchlight Club Of the Y. NJ.
c. "A. Tuesday evening. 1t was DR..
Steiner's first address in the new
building, and his first appearance be-.
fore the Searchlight Club for a few
years. The wives Of members were
invited and they and their husbands
made an audience of 400 or more.
DR.. Steiner has always been one of
the most popular speakers the club has
had before it, and that his repeated
visits have increased his popularity
was shown by the size of the audience.
Defines American Life.
The Challenge Of the American
Spirit" was DR.. Steiners subject for an
oral analysis of American national
life that has become a field in which
Dr. Steiner is now recognized auth
GRITTY.
National unity, the spirit Of pioneer
ing, and religious ideals, are the three
elements of the strength of the United
States as DR.. Steiner subdivided them.
With the strength of each element he
pointed out its weakness that is likely
to become source of national danger.
Our National Unity.
1.-The most remarkable element Of
our national life is our national unity"
said DR.. Steiner. He pointed out the
remarkable achievement of the unity
Of political ideals, unity Of speech, and
unity of American life. In no other
nation of the world was this unity Of
states and languages so harmonious.
The American spirit becomes VIC
tor in the first generation after i'm
migration" said DR.. Steiner in describ-
ing how, subtle and powerful was the
American influence that the child of a
foreigner makes a full-fedged Amer
lean in half generation.
DR. Steiner saw strength, not weak
ness, new, rich blood, not weakened
national vitality, in these new Amer
leans. He thought our source of ma
tional weakness lay elsewhere.
IF America Is to die and perish It
will not die because of the emigrant;
it is going to die from Fifth avenue,
New York, and Newport. r. l., down."
Strength Of the Pioneer.
I In the spirit that urged pioneers int ,
the west to conquer the prairie and the
forest and to people d cast unsettled
land, DR.. Steiiier Aseessa Tremendous
stronghold of national strength. 1t was
this spirit that had made America and
was keeping 1t.
r''"It ise the, spirit to conquer obsta :.
cles, to retain a virility and capacity
for absorption of foreign elements"
said DR.. Steiner.
The strength of the pioneer, who in
a generation had made vast wealth,
had in turn become source of weak
mes. Our national danger, he said lies
among the purposeless rich,a the cfil-
.dren Of these pioneers who have more
money than is good for them and.
nothing to do. 81 81
Religious Ideal an Element.
The religious ideal Of the nation DR..
Steiner described as it's third element
of strength. This ideal is summed up
in this quoted phrase Of a president:
To ask nothing for the United States
that it does not ask for the whole
world"
That, said the speaker, was the pur-
pose behind all foreign conquests in
which, we have been engaged, and the
national religious ideal was expressed
in the democracy Of our churches and
schools.
."The world" said DR.. Steiner. needs
America today as she never has be-
fore; needs her with her pioneering
spirit, her democratic unity. and her
broad and hopeful outlook"
DR.. Steiner was interrupted by APP
plause several times. Ralph w. Scott.
president of the club, introduced the
speaker. Before he began General Sec
rotary John B. Northcott led the audi
ence in singing.
Z Professor Steiner was accompanied
to the city by Mrs. Steiner, and was,
a guest at the e r. Lay home. DR..
Steiner went this afternoon to Cedar
Rapids, where he addresses high school
students Thursday. Mrs. Steiner will
return to Grinnell this evening.