The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1918-12-03
The Menace OF
PATERNALISM
CHAPTER VIII
The Need For Sober Reasoning


boys are fighting for liberty, the
great and splendid structure of or
dered and enlightened freedom
and covenanted individual rights,
which was handed down to all A !
merican should be invaded by that
most insidious foe Of liberty, pat
ernalism, with it's allies and closes
relatives, bureaucracy and social
ism.
1t would be a grievous affliction
if under the emotional stress and
turmoil produced by war, our peo-
pie were to tolerate doctrines tol
take a footing on our soil, which
their sober wisdom heretofore has
scornfully rejected as will-o the
wisps and as un-American.
It would be bitter irony of fate
if whilst democracy triumphed on
the bloody fields of war over that
arch representative Of the paterna
listic system and spirit, Germany,
our own governmental and social
conceptions and practices were to
be infected with the Prussian poi.
son Of paternalism and bureaucra-
cy.
The illustrious men who found
ed the United States Of America
gave us the Wisest instrument Of
government which the wit Of man
has ever devised. Gladstone call
ed it 1.-THE most wonderful work
ever struck off at a given time by
the brain and purpose Of man. A
great British jurist referred to it
as 1.-THE bulwark Of American indi-
vidualism.' Faith in individual
effort, and the aim to give it incen
tive and protection are Of it's warp
and wool.
Under that instrument this Re-
public, through test and trial and
storm, has lived for near a century
and half a space Of time far long
er than any other genuine repub-
lie has ever endured. While pros
pering materially beyond all par
i allel, it has maintained high and
noble ideals. While devoted to
the arts of peace, it has preserved
it's sturdy virility and, whenever
called upon, has splendidly demon
strated its undiminished martial
prowess. It has been the land OF
opportunity, reckoning to and
drawing hither men and women
from all countries Of the world
We do not pretend that it has
: achieved perfection in it's social
. conditions, we earnestly desire ev
er further progress towards that
end. but we do claim that it has
offered and offers to the masses OF
its people a fairer and larger field
: and more Of reward and Of we'll
being than exists anywhere else
Gentleman, it is the task and tbs
duty Of all men and women having
stake, material or spiritual in the
: present and future Of the nation
or loosen the cornerstone on which
our institutions rest-individua1
effort. And amongst those who
are called to that task and that du
: ty, the business men Of America
5 have leading place
, We yield to none, eitehr in th{
intensity Of our desire to bring
about the greatest attainable we'll
being for all the people. We lool
ahead, after victory and peace
shall have been achieved, to for
ward movement, to an ever more
widely diffused prosperity, to OBJ
portunities and achievements /,
I the field Of the material as we'll a.
e OF the ideal, such as has rarely faI
r len to the lot Of any people, provi
O lded always that our country re
6 mains steadfast to its tried am
tested principles and timehonoret
< traditions, wisely and firmly an.
e progressively adjusting their ar
l. pllcatlon to the needs Of the day.
4 10 that end, we must stand to
gether, counsel with each othc
y and work together. We must civ
voice to our convictions. We mus
n become a militant phalanx in tn
IS cause Of that which we profoundl
4 belleya 10 be right and wise an
. just and making for the greatnes
- OF America and the happiness an
e welfare of her DeOy,la