The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-09
What's Wrong with America?

Ell . take STOCK. i ne rest OF the world Is
busy with its own troubles, so we can safe
ly engage in a frank confession of our
shortcomings.
Now is the time to find where we're wrong.
When the floods are racing against the
dykes, it's too late to begin repairs. No man
can predict when nor how the storms, that are
now Wrecking Europe, will move upon U.S. We
must know our strength-ourse1ves.
It's poor patriotism that resents the dis
closure of national weakness. The optimism
that feeds solely upon success eventually breeds
failure
Over-confidence is the ally of disaster.
Wisdom is wary. History is a graveyard of
cock-sure empires-of peoples who ceased to
post sentinels after they reached supremacy.
Campaign orators and Fourth of July elocutionsts
to the contrary, there's lot wrong in America.
We've grown rich at the expense of citizenship.
We've developed ideas faster than ideals.
The biggest organization in the United States is
1.-The George Society''-those who expect the other
fellow to do his duty.
Individuaism- pursuit of personal advantage
is the dominant note in our life
Private ambitions absorb splendid abilities which
should be devoted to the nation. The greater minds
among us are planning and continuing for their own
ends Generally speaking public service is deemed
sacrifice instead Of privilege.
For example, what have you ever done for Amer
lea? Indeed, what do you really know about the
country2 How familiar are you with its past-with
the principles laid down by its founders How many
articles of the Constitution can you recite9 Do Won
even know all verses Of one patriotic song?
How often have you examined the record of the
men for whom you have cast your votes On how
many occasions have you gone among your neghbors
to urge their support for the enactment of measures in
which you had no direct concern9 Do you care how
many forests destroyed in the next state or what
waterways are choked against navigation thousand
miles away?
To which you probably answer that you'll render
as much service the next man-but there's the rub
the next man is wrong too.
There's too much carelessness-too much callous-
ness too much ignorance too much willingness to shove
responsibility the shoulders of few and too little
in the selection of the few who shoulder the re-
sponsibility.
How decide upon the sanest measures, if
those whom you empower to judge the measures are
not themselves the sanest the ablest and the most
patriotic among
No form Of preparedness is so important as your
own preparedness for the exercise of the franchise
While you remain Indifferent to the great causes be-
hind progress and security we will continue to have
Indifferent legislation through bombastic superficial
self-seeking and pork grabbing legislators.
We cannot be greater than leaders, And so
long as men OF demonstrated capacity disregarded
and Bull and Pull are supported for office in their
stead, we shall continue to be incompetent for tho
emergencies of peace well as war.
Whether we are called upon to meet an invader or
shoudera rifle play the Stacker is not the question
There's three hundred and sixty-6ve day patriotism,
and other sort is genuine America needs you and
your help year in and out.
We can boast of illustrious achievements, but
we've arrived at point where must begin to count
the costs. q as p:isai
Gigantic blunders mark the path of our progress
unless consider them promptly and counterfeit their
influence there will be an incalculabe reckoning
Criminal wastes have been incurred in the develop
ment of our industries. We've licked all creation
commercially but we've almost licked ourselves in the
process.
We've buffed prodgiously and the bluffs have
been called because game has never reached
the stage of a showdown.
Nature and four thousand miles of rich and virgin
continent have absorbed our extravagances.
Our wanton exhaustion of wealth sources is prob
ably without parallel in modern times.
Any old-wolld nation conducting its affairs with
the neficiency of method and contempt for con
sevation you'll have gone bankrupt long ago.
There's lot thot's wrong in America.
But the underlying .ro'.ble is YOU.
" He,