Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-09-06
DEMOCRACY'S PR()BL EN-
Is IN IT'S SCHOOLS
By Or. CLAUDE H, VAN TINE.
Of inc JrizsAEity OF Michi6.r

Of inc University OF Michigan.
EEDEoR's NcTE.-Ihe isfoct5 ii
cur educational 5yzte1. pointed cur by
Dr.. Van Tyne ars tie principal targets
ut which us National Security
Leagues great nationwide Campaign
of Patriotism Through Education" is
aimcd.l
Certain fundamental h.LcIicdL iti5-
ais must be Impressed ;--ron Tic Amer
lean youth. The c1ici- through whicl,
this nation recently passed before it
could be bTough. 90 4 wfoie-heartcsl
support oG . w:g begun for the pur-
pose OF preserving the most vital prin-
ciples upon 3nich it was founded has
aroused educators everywhere like Il
fire-bell II the night, to understand
that We must employ our educational
machinery more than we have in the
past to imbus every American citizen
win c co.nrrah ansion Of democratic
principle.
If ne can ina some definite 1leaila
OF occurring 81 understanding Of demo
cratic Ideals, |a may aEpelt a. :
result a patriotic zeal IN defending
them. II Americanism - belief in
and habit Of supporting such ideals,
then we may hope that such . process
viii produce it
Opposing Theories.
Ihs Am.:rican,s theory Of the gtate
is that 1t axi5to 20 protect him in tie
enjoyment Of lie. llbert- ana the pur-
suit Ct happiness; tliat the individual
is the important thing. not the state
An opposing theory, and it happens tc
be the German theory, ig that the state
is the important thing, that to It
the individual owes everything. life
and liberty and even blind obedience
of orders 10 do cruel and brutal acts.
Why rot teach that difference to boys
and Slrl1 instead Of mere dry facts
about the erGanG Of government and
their functions. Let Us not be so shy
and modest about the virtues OF our
political system. The Germans are
not Let US say frankly that democ-
Tacy implies nation In peace, that
autocracy implies a nation In arms.
We can teach frankly. too, that our
great principle Of local self-govcrn-
ment i3 wholly at conflict with the
German ambitions for word-cmpirc,
anc with ner whole tendency OF gov
eminent in provinces like Poland and
AlSace-Lorraine.
"Teacf Too LittIe.S
1t is the spirit Of our institutions
which We have failed TO impart to the
rising generations. We have been
afraid to state that our democratic
upholds the Christian spirit
OF brotherhood, asserts the wisdom
Of united action for the good Of all,
and seeks TO save the weak from the
aggression OF the strong. We have
'efrained from saying that the auto
cratic philosophy operated to deaden
he sentiment of humanity; that in
lffairs Of state 1t sneered at mercy
nd gentleness, at love and kind
less; that the foundation OF that
was the stern law of
he survival Of the fttest; that, TO
'e concrete, Befg1um, weak state,
rad no rights, when she stood in 49,
rag Of Germany, a big state.
We haye taught the american youth !.
II too little about the foundations of l
heir liberty. The story Of the blood p
nd suffering Of the builders. of the
empest that, ragged them while they :,
utlt, CT the martyrs who were the Q
rchltects Of those foundations. This
tstory has been too little told Auto !,
rats see to 1t that their people are 8
IMPRESSED with their rulers virtues &
nd those Of their ancestors, but de-
.ccracies leave their citizens to take II
leir liberties as they do the sir they d;
reath.. Republics are ungratcful only 4;
ecause there IS nobody who. Sntr:- u
stit ts tc inculcate that gratitude.
" tn