The sun., 1916-10-16

Arc we DOn0 or free! Inc QueotiOh
Is paramount and must soon be
answered. In its solution rests the
destiny Of the republic.
Have we as individuals "~inalienable
rights" and as a nation Is this In
truth the land OF the free and the
home Of the brave?
Are VIC in danger Of losing the price,
less blessings Of liberty for which the
fathers bled. or are they already lost to
this people?
Have we h%ypothecated our birthright
or have We sold II for a mess Of
pottagc"?
! II we are too busy stuffing our wall
let's to keep the shield of honor un-
furnished. to keep the torch OF liberty
alight. or to recognize and appreciate
these blessings and the sacrifices they
cost. the time Is now ripe to make the
discovery.
II we are too proud to fight for
the integrity OF II inheritance let us
make haste TO proclaim 1t to the world.
that we be not charged with the crime
OF national hypocrisy. At a time
Of international and domestic unrest.
when great States without and insidi-
GUS forces within seek TO strange the
spirit OF liberty. is peace at any
price" to be our watchword? II so,
let II be known.
Shall we as a free people abdicate
the throne Of reason and of govern
mcnt that we may give full play to
any political vagary our fancies die
tate? Is it in conformity with tho
faithful discharge Of our trusteeship
that We surrender without a struggle
the function Of government TO the de-
mands OF any class Of citizens that
peace may be our portion at the price
Of liberty and the abandonment OF the
heroic traditions OF the past? Serf-
dom. not freedom, is the bitter fruit
OF such a course.
The world Is in the birth pangs of
an epoch. We are standing on the
threshold OF n new era. and II We
would grid ourselves to discharge the
huge responsibilities the times impose
II behooves us to examine a few II the
fundamental factors concerned with
our future.
II In this great crisis we are to make
prompt and adequate response to the
call OF duty. duty to ourselves and
duty 10 others. we must to-day inspect
critically the foundations upon which
our institutions rest and set our house
In order'-to-morrow may be too late.
In the heat and confusion OF con-
hict tho basic principles OF human
Justice and liberty are easily obscured.
Recent events In international and do
nestle affairs ave brought this fresh
TO mind.
Something for nothing can ho So
cured neither by individuals nor ma
lions. Travail is the price OF achieve
ment.
II we would seek a sound solution
Of the problems which confront us we
must engage in the great art Of intro
spection: a difficult. unpopular and
unfattering duty. 4 people in the
fu'l flush OF prosperous trade rcsents
the suggestion that II undertake tho
unpleasant though profitable task Of
seeing itself as others see IL. Yet the
reri's Of to-day compel the plunge.
National, like individual. greatness
is founded upon and revealed In char
acter. In response to cvolut!onal i'm
pulses the character OF a people is be-
come the standard by which nations
are judged. This receives emphasis
III U'lfl''l 'NlfS NnfTp inc VIII OF a
people finds expression in govern
mental policies. and hence registers
the character Of the average citizen.
Vast possessions, houndlcss efficiency.
trade volume. are beside the issue.
Nations. like individuals. may no
selfish and tyrannlcal. Nations. like
individuals, may bc good or had neigh
bors. These and similar Qualities q.
national character have their source
in forces inscparably associated with
standards Of intelligence Education
may and often has contributed largely
toward the fashioning OF good citizen
ship: yet however We may plume our
selves upon enjoying as nations go a
fairly low coeficient OF ill!tcracy. We
must recognize that this commendahle
condition Of itself offers no assurance
OF immunity from national blunders
and moral turpitude.
Whether or not We regard lgno-
rance, ~crcdulity, folly and prejudice as
SYNONYMOUS, whether or not L.cuisI
ana has a percentage of iilitcracy
higher and Iowa lower than the aver
age FOR tho country. they are but in
te"esting collateral issues.
Intelligence is the dominant and no.
tent factor in individual DEVELOPMENT
ana character culture. and az pa rlier
indicated IN our time through its
cumulative expression is also the chief
guide In classifying nations as TO their
purpose and ability to confer upon
themselves and their contemporaries
and transmit 10 posterity the blessings
of the higher freedom.
We AFRO fhpp tho ,rant,ro, z.-