The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-14
Bv HUNTINGTON WILSON.

must become broader and less seinsh
, and must merge into a vital natiotai-
ism.
Only on that foundation an the
. State become strong. efficient and wise
under our Institutions. We Americans
can have none of the Prussian idea or
building a people under the state; We,
the people. cooperating as a nation
must build the State over. but of our
selves.
Correspondingly u humanitarians
might we'll reflect that the practical
way TO improve the world is for each
nation to improve itself. We seem to
, have at present a mania for interna-
tionai of uplift. They are
srand and attractive in the noise they
make. But world federation and world
peace movements. operating on ma
tional units OF varying civilizations.
characteristics and ideals. arc no moro
likely to bring u world millennium than
mere legislation is likely to bring a ma
tional millennium.
Under republican institutions We
must improve the individual in order
10 improve the State. Just so in order
TO improve the world our business is to
improve our own nation. The philoso-
ply Of our enthusiasts for world move
ments is s~insularly Prussian for Amer
leans to indulge in.
At present the average citizen
leaves everything to Washington. and
Washington has its ear to the ground
listcning for the citizens opinion. The
citizen seltishly attends to his private
affairs. Hence a vicious circle and
fatuous drift.
We must have leaders. and the voter
must wake up and do moro thinking
and must elect able. unsclfsh. brave
men. only so can our State become
efficient.
Besides the responsible cooperation
" lIluiN iuudlS " ~
OF national purposes II Is essential to
set free the brains and character Of the
Southern people in order that they
may vote sincerely and by conviction
upon national policies. To save Amer
lea We need the combined devotion OF
all true Americans. Yet for decades
we have performed the incredible folly
OF allowing a dead issue. the negro
, question in the South. to bind the
brains and character of that great sec
ton to traditional voting. quite ire
sponsive to the real issues OF national
policy. II the members Of the late Pro-
gressive party will force the Republic
can party to discard h negro issue
and treat it as a purely local one, in
accordance with Mr.. Roosevelt's plat
form, they will perform a wonderful
service to II country.
Even in the popular movement for
national defence We seem to have half
Q dozen uncoordinated organizations.
All these should be centralized in one
agency. 1t should have branches in
every State and considerable WI
Some local citizen would he patriotic
enough to lend his Office in Zach place
for a centre for distributing literature
and for the organization Of local meet
ings to be addressed on the subject.
Through such local agencies the whole
national defence movement could
make itself felt thoroughly in cleo
tons. without thus bringing pressure
upon Individual members OF Congress
and Senators it Is doubtful IL really
good work for national defence can he
expected from Washington, where
leadership in this regard has been so
hating n lukcwarm.
One a imagine that in this way
there might eve grow up a vast
patriotic organization of u~nhyphcnated
Americans that might he permanent
and might in time ga%Ivanize our po-
litical life. rOusc interest in our vital
issues and force Upon the voters clear
and thorough thought upon such is
sues. and the duty of insisting upon
high ability. devotion and u~nselrshness
on the part Of their elected repre-
. s"ntatives.
without such intellectual coopera-
fnn and direct responsibility among
70 the mass of good citizens order cannot
J." brought out OF chaos. In a fusion
for efficiency of all the national defence
or"'n'vat'"na th"r" NAY even lu The
germ Of a purely American league to
further all great national aims.
In many Industries we Americans
have shown "A genius for organization.
The peace At any price advocates are
organized The d!Sturbers Of indus
,ria' r'a"" are organized. Even the
criminal class are said to often Le ar.
slnizcd, Corrupt politics are highly
o. organized.
The way for representative main
American citizens, who arc tho ma.
3ority. to have the nation bc and no,