The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-04-10
Restraint Habit in America.
From the Chicago Tribune.


A Frenchman might wear a straw hat in g snowatorm and 10 other
Frenchnan would bother about It, 1t would be assumed that no had reasons
sufficient to him for his preference. 1t would be Considered his w Affair.", .
bit of the variety IF life n of no concern to anyone else.
In America h e would BIZ a mine days wonder Some would jer and plt
Others would call tn police. Others would form a society for thu prohibition
of straw hat wearing in he winter months.
In French civilization there is profound respect Tor Individuality. in Amer
lea here is little OF none. The French recognize that without a free play OF
personality life must losei its spontanery, its sincerity its wholesome elasticity,
its grace. color. and z@t In America we incline more and more toward
ndardizat AM hi rule of h maipiyi in mattesw which should Sc left
pn to he Individual We already live under a tyranny Of public opinion
which anufactur hypocrisy compels medocrity.. Fr originality, for
idosyncras and individuality we nave at bottom both Tear n hatred. We
a sort of moral lynch Law for anything that does not square with the
n we punish the unusual WIN sonethlngh IKE lhe oWo AefocHy oI .
avage tribe. . -
TMs strange development in the land Oft thu free and the home of the
brave has as m OF its phases, our inclination to pas laws to enforce odes Of
morals or enforce rules of discipline. Not undersandin or respecting real
processes If character building, we aren not willing TO rely upon the appear 70
the conscience Id the education of the will. We are concerned with external
conduct and inpatenty seek exhrnalm methods Of controlling 1T, IMPOSING the
connective will b Law rather than seeking to enhghten the sources OF conduct
and bring about right conduct from Within
In q nation truly free laws affecting conduct ared directed against actsW mcn
tniuriously affect others. w are xceedingl slack In this espec n think
- Ia oaa,s freedom We permit q man to build out beyond his eighbors
building lin Or to u lossor Inconvenience to a settled residenc distrit by
eroct;nra factory In IT. w e permit wne to keep ice ana now on their noe
uarss h heir more public spirited neighbors clear theirs. n In most
resnects we are free to neglect OF infringe upon the interests Of others. tut
we like ito pass laws IN ordinances to omp the lhof uuai " w Us we lMnh
he onpbt o dc for his good. We wish to censorh his plays his sports his
n,ss++a habits We are Jesse concerned about preventing him from doing wrong
~ ~ ,hsrss than n preventing him from doing what w consider harm to himself.
Mi it would seem is standing policy or ATS head. 1t certainly epresents
= ,mentta1 rrealiues Of character making Socially it produces suit hat are
eennaI and annarentr ather tina essential an creates a Species OF moraNsdc
aesnntsm which overrides h private conscience n destroys liberty where
liberty is most precious. -. 1870 -. IT.. a,a4. - ~.
horea.s Of our political institutions will not compensate u.s. for our loss Amer
n "a amooro N this path will nt produce a high civilization, which Away
must be founded o n the nnd am" SP" - "A
ism wiuhou beauty ors reng'h