South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-24
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DECEMBER "a, 1917.
TIE NEW AMERICA


One does not elOqUence in the annual report
Of secretary Of the interior. one does expect
mucl but statistics Therefore the nation has a sur
prise report Of secy Franklin X published
= few days ago. For document turned by Prest
Wilson recognized even by his opponents as a master
Of the written word, speech of the older orators
neither Clay Webster or Of Lincoln himself
contains of sound and beautiful English more Of
direct and powerful spiritual force. No document
speech coEt9ins more OF real Americansm 1t should
be by every American in entirety. Failing
here three paragraphs. Read them now and read
them again TO the whole family.
Men are already thinking Of the greater
America that they believe to be coming when
the war is done We are in this war as the
trustees Of social and political ideals, most of
them Uniformed, even embryonic and these
hope 20 realize through the strength Of
the nation. Our natonalism, intense, virle,
and OF the fighting kind, a part ma
chnery through which we are working to
make all our debtors. Our national pur-
pose is transmute days of dreary work in
to happier Ives-for ourselves first and for all
others in their time This is the large view
the idealistic view, if you please, of Americas
mission II is the subconscious philosophy of
all history-our wars. our public-schooI
system, conservation schemes, our enter
prise.
This greater America is not to be the flmy
product Of a nations fancy, the day dream of
a monumental national 1t is to be as sub
stantial hard thought and hard work
make it, thing Of good roads. ships and
railroads well-fertilized farms and well-or-
ganized industry. regulated rivers put to use
and schools and schools and schools and lab
oratories and more Iaboratoriesi War has
taught England and France much-one thing
perhaps above all others, how all important
in this day is the man who has the kind
Of savoir faire If we are to meet the full
rivalry Of the world. we must rest chance for
success upon ability TO produce men who
in character, in trained capacities, and in
radioactive imagination viii outnatch those
whom they to meet.
This new America as the old, viii con-
tribute TO the world products with most
generous hand. But the ultimate resource of
the nation is that which within the
ground. but that which vibrates in mans
brain. Therefore. out of the struggle and
torture that we shall pass through and the
reverses and triumphs that we shall meet
there should evolve the conception of America
the center OF the worlds thought an Amer
lea that will give that leadership and direction
20 the scientific. literary and social thought Of
the world that we pride ourselves have
recently given to its political thought Our
status in this gives us place of moral
ascendency from which il we are great enough
to be humble we can become real masters of
men. conquerors of the invisible kingdom Of
mans mind"
Get that into Your system. Read it again. Let it
saturate. The present may De dark stiffness
precedes the storm. so storm also precedes still
ness Cheer up. tt might be worse things will be
better. Reflect on the New America.