Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1916-08-10
Radical Action Is
Needed in America
New Conception Of Duty
on Part Of the People
10 Necessary
By JAMES E. CLARK
BY JAMES E, CLARK

II the United States Is 10 be p'rI'a'
ncntly. or even temporarily saved rs a
natlon. there must be new coh''p
don Of duty, and clear realization "'
our position as people ana 'h'h Il
leep.set resolution 10 make rhul,"'
changes In oursmudc of living Inc
realization must come 20 an over
ghelmlng majority u Americans sac.
rflces must be made by all classes oil
both sexes. The womunhood " Amer
lea can do quite us much in bringing
about the necessary revolution aS can
the men.
Just as Israel Putnam left the team
hltched to the pillow In the mrrow To
hasten To the defense ~ his country
so must this generation turn from us
present pursuits or the republic Will
fall.
The signs Of the coming change are
plain for whoever will read thrm. Ma
lions are like men. There Us scarcely
community In the United state, io'
day that does not possess individuals
whose lives give open proof of thr say
ing that ats only three generations
from shirt sleeves ~ shirt sleeve, %
h0mely way ~ saying that the wealth
a man acquires by hts Industry 0ud
which wealth releases his SONS and
frandsons from similar application
finally reduces the latter to thr shirt
sleeve level on which the foundation
Of the fortune was laid But tho third
generation is Handicapped hy lu,, ~
energy aud by luxurious tastes d,yrl.
oped In the day u aiIlurucr.
Wealth brings relief from strife
then luxury and indolcnt ease. which
dlms the vision and lowers The mental
and physical man.
Nations Like individuals
In the history ~ the nation, there
ARE similar cycles ~ time. First. there
Is the formative period when the veal
thy are few in number aud work o.
well-nlgh universal Then after other
stages, comes the era ~ great wealth
OF many pleasures, 81 n numerous l,ls
ure class, with brain power weakened
and the desire for ease fnshionIng ann
pie excuses TO avoid EFFORT involving
personal sacrifice. As nation. n,
people Of the United States are well
within the latter stage.
The proof Of this statement Is 70 b,
found on every hand-ln the cIistenc,
Of great leisure class: IN the cas,
with which the average man and won
an may gain n luxurious livelihood with
small effort, hut most ~ nll. IN the ire
mendously important and significant
fact that We have millions ~ person,
who are actually nonpruduccrS som,
OF our greatest industries are devote,
principally or wholly 10 the pleasure.
OF the masses. and the c.rrHms'.nr,
that these industries give employment,
and high wages 90 many hands doe.
not alter the truth ~ the statement
that we are following with swift hast,
the pursuit ~ mere pleasure froT,
paradise. Already We are weak. ,u''
md nabby and almost hnp,lr,,1
welded to pleasure Just as were o,h,,
great nations when they fcll q prey Q.
less refined, but more vigorous pcorI,
who coveted the wealth ~ me l.gly
civilized. The yellow peril Is more ,hqr
n catch phruse-lt II n horrible real
ity.
Tyre and Carthage, great In then
day, even as We are In our own. pas,,,
away and period Of great wealth pr,
coded the decHne.
Jerusalem was destroyed md f
people scattered.
Greece was conquered md a.,
sorbed by Rome. and the Roman
empire, once the conqueror. was dis
membered and It's glorles finally cS
unguished.
Assyria, NlnIveh, Babylon. the Pcrs.,
Of Darius and Xerxes fell into dees,
and Egyptian civilization was under
mined and fell on the heels " Vc.I.i
and ease. There il stlll another lis, a,
fallen nations In Asia and In Indls
and coming nearer home there is Snnlt
stripped u her old power and wealth
Indications Of Lethsruy.
The proof Of the fact that the United
States Is entering Into the lcthnrrv
which from the beginning OF the worlt
has attended wealth and ease. il foup,
In many familiar conditions Of nation
oil life. There Is, for instance m,
lackadalsical interest taken By the nv
erage man in national defense. and "a
Elected In waste Of two years aftc,
the weaknesses Of our defenscs he.
came known.
What nation save one that was los.
Ing Its virillty would tolerate such a
condition at time when the vbo,,
world Is adame as We now ind In an,
own navyi We have no less thnn IA
ships stu on paper or on the s,ny.
we have no less than 20 more shlps a,
all classes and kinds az nnch,, a.,