Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-26

~ r.. LYMAN ABBOTT, editor of The
1 J Outlook, is eighty-four years old, and
an optimist. He celebrated his
eighty-fourth anniversary last week, but the
day was in no wise different from the others
that have occupied his active life of literary
endeavor, excepting perhaps that he sub
mitted to a newspaper interview that is no
table for it's spirit of optimism respecting
humanity.
In his capacity as editor of The Outlook,
Dr. Abbott devoted his birthday anniversary
to reading the newspaper, consulting MS
assistants and attacking the current problems
with the same keenness and alertness that
has made him one of the outstanding fig
ures of his time. His interest in the issues
of the day, on the occasion of his eighty
fourth anniversary, was no less pronounced
than in the years gone by, when he was the
associate Of Henry Ware neecner. The rou-
tine of his busy day was diversified only by
receiving more callers than usual and atten-
ton to a bulky assortment of congratulatory
letters.
DR.. Abbott's interview was remarkable for
it's intimate knowledge of world affairs and
the optimism he expressed with regard to
the future. He believes that the League of
Nations will become fact. that BolsheVism
can gain no permanent foothold in America
and that eventually democracy in the indus
tries of the land will be realized.
THE fact that eighty Senators have
voted for the league covenant in one
form or another and only seventeen have
voted against it indicates to me that
will, get some League OF Nations action
from the Senate-just what kind we
don't know" he said PERSONALLY I
have been an advocate of a League Of
Nations for many years. You remember
such plan first was offered fifteen or
the first GThitr3-
ton conference"
DR.. Abbotts interview leaves no question
that he has studied at close range the trend
of radcalsm in America and elsewhere. 1t
is his idea that the American nation is po-
litically democratic and educationally demo-
cratic, but industrially not democratic, and
he believes that we will have no real peace
until the business of the country is conducted
along democratic lines.
But the American people never will
submit to the Bolshevist doctrines as an
nounced by Lenne in his official dcfini-
ton OF principles in an address to his
followers in 1915" said Dr. Abbott, who
added:
"The fundamental principles as Lenine
described them are:
That only hand workers shall vote.
=" That Ill industries shall be carried ON
by the government.
"' That all industry shall be under one
absolute dictator.
y'Nothing was said concerning the
means of selecting this dictator. Per-
haps that never decided. At any
rate it does not interest us particularly
since | feel sure that the American peO-
pie never will adopt such theories"
DR.. Abbott entertains the belief that prin-
'ciples and not men will dominate the next
am hat dnoon flo h
lens, rather than the peace treaty, will form
the issues that will control the electorate.
The views of d.. Abbott are always in
teresting and Illuminating, and the respect
in which they are held is enhanced by an
ever-increasing regard for the venerable
author editor-preacher, whose useful and
fruitful career is an inspiration to the
younger generations. ..4~.- .'." .-