Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-12-16
BY RoBERr eAcob
Eorn1er sefrefarx Of State

+
Former Secretary Of State
For Americans. the most hopeful
sign Of the eventful times In which
We are living Is the newly-awakenec
spirit OF the people Of our country.
That there is something new astil
in The land must be evident to every
observer The national consciousness
is beginning TO be aroused TO the
sense OF our national needs
Although the ideas and the ideals OF
the People may not have generally
assumed PRACTICAL. definite form, the
spirit ef the people Is everywhere
evident. We have come to recognize
the soIeinn importance OF our civic
rights aue our civic duties.
The spirit which has been awakened
might be defined as the spirit of
service. We hear today, on every
side, from men and women in all
walks of life, the question: What can
do" How can help"
The war in Europe has brought
home to us some solemn truths. We
have felt the lack of unity of pur-
pose in our national life. We know
now that the material prosperity Of
our country Is not enough-that it
may even be source of danger TO
our national soul
Within few months we have
learned that those men were not
slarmists who. a little while ago.
sought to impress upon our people
the truth that without national spirit
and a national ideal this nation could
not hope TO endure.
Within the past eighteen months
we have seen this spiritual discomfort
take active expression in the forma-
ton Of many societies, to degree
hardly ever before Witnessed IN our
history. Many activities have sprung
into existence with the object OF unit
ing our people, binding them together
for common defense. and associatjng
them for the purpose Of cooperation
and common effort.
II is cause for inspiration and
qualification to every American that
the response to the appeal made by
these societies TO the nation has been
Z widespread and sincere. Men ana
women by the thousands and hun
dreds of thousands throughout the
land have enrolled In organizations
having for their purpose the study OF
the needs OF the nation. The work
has been carried on in the schools.
among the foreign-born and among
the native-born, Until one today can
feel the impulse of national spirit.
Not quite a year ago the National
Security League held its first con
gress in Washington. At that time
the Security League was a new and
comparatively small organization. To.
day. 1t has one hundred thousand
meES5sfs enrolled IN two hundred and
eighty branches and committees,
located in al parts Of the Union.
The first congress of the League
was to many an Inspiration and an
awakening It's call for national pre-
paredness served to crystalline the
opinions OF a great number of our
citizens who have been disturbed by
our lack OF adequate national defense.
The National Security League has
just issued a call for another national
congress which will be held, in
Washington on January Is, 26, and
"a, 1917 Invitations to attend the
congress have been extended, or VIII
be extended. not only to the hundred
thousand members of the League, but
also 10 the members Of all learned
societies, patriotic societies. and COM
mercial, labor. and agricultural as
sociations,
The Congress- will have even
greater Importance than that of last
winter, for as the first Congress
served to arouse the spirit of the
people, so this coming Congress, II
is expected, win serve to define the
thoughts and aims that have been
stirring In the public mind, A pro-
gram has been arranged for the dis
cussion OF certair fundamental ques-
tionsspemong them the following
1. The SCOPE and effects of uni. |
yersal training and service. both civic |
and military.
2. International relations and
obligations and the necessity that |
their nature. as affecting the future |
Of this nation. be generally under
stood.
). Governmental and individual |
efficiency and the injuries which re-
suit from their neglect.
4. The Junction OF education in
the deyelopment Of true American
Patriotism.
8. Practical means and remedies |
whereby national carelessness anu in.
efficiency may be eliminated, and
whereby there may be fostered a
patriotism that shall find expression
in everyday life.
National preparedness is the most |
vital problem mat confronts our
people today Military preparedness.
although unquesticnably essential Tor
our defense. is only q sma1l part Of
the preparedness we need for the
making of nation. II is vitality
Necessary that there he preparedness
and efficiency and organization in all
branches of industrial and agricultural
activity as well
There must be among our people
of purpose. we must hold |
common ideals and a common love
,.ns.nfrx, The pof |