The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-04-25

g.
THE CORNER STONE OF DEMOCRACY
Now that the war is over, and as we count an
other milestone on the highway of our national
life toward truer democracy, we see that
all our progress is the result of quiet, orderly
thought and discussion Of our public affairs.
That each time that our democracy has been
threatened, within or without, it has been the i'll
advised action that comes from feeling, emotions,
predominating thought-Within ourselves or our
enemies.
That the only threatening cloud now on the
horizon of our national life, small as it may be- is
from source that precludes all factors of reason.
The foundation of all our democracy is order
and system.
Our Colonial forefathers learned order and
system from the discussion of their social bust
ness and political affairs long before the American
Revolution-they practiced it in town meetings.
They learned to make compromises
They learned that progress, reform, does not
come as a will or ideal of one-that the might of
one or of few does not make the right of all.
Our Colonial forefathers carried the spirit of
quiet, orderly discussion to the framing of the
Declaration of independence, later to that very
orderly and systematic document, the Constitution
OF the United States and after the Revolution
THIS habit OF quiet, orderly discussion proved the
training for self government one generation unto
another, in the national life which has followed.
3. The lesson from this, for all Of US Of this gem
Grafton, and particularly young men and women,
is that we should pursue the practice of quiet,
orderly discussion as ndividuals-the practice
that has been found workable in the upbuilding of
this nation, that we may become strong as indi-
viduals and stronger as nation
u That every young man and woman should
make the joining and participating in an organza-
ton part of his or her education to citizenship.
a. Begin with the school organization, follow it
with the business social organization-the
church, the lodge the club-any that have pur-
pose beyond themselves.
Learn from the discussion of their affairs
learn from participation in the discussions
always quietly, with thought rather than feeling:
Learn to compromise.
Learn that those who will not compromise are
the real obstructionists.
Learn that the strongest men and women in
these organizations-the leaders of them-are
those who present truth with order and SYSTEM
quietly-with the most Thought and the least
feeling.
Observe that feeling, emotion, loudness Of
speech, and above all, exhibition Of temper, are
never proof Of the soundness of belief.
Learn that those who argue with the most feel
ing and temper have their own vanity at heart
rather than the good of cause.
That while people are often carried away on
wave of emotional oratory, yet it is never of
permanent conviction.
That while an individual may be right as
against an organization, that even whole people
may be wrong at times yet it is only the process
by which they finally get right.
Learn that permanent reforms come bv slow
and orderly courses, that they are disturbed and
retarded by feelings and force; that they come,
one process on another, quietly, unnotced natur-
ally, like the changing seasons of the year-winter
into spring, spring into summer; summer into fall.
If Lenine feels insulted about Hun threats to
adopt Bolshevism, he can get even by threatening
to cast aside all remaining scruples and adopt
kultur.
The war has taught us that the only way to
get results is to centralize authority But every
married woman knew that before the war;
The bandits are killing few American citi-