Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-22

wv "o''uerlul Inventions which he could
not rave foreseen. may we not be as
sured that he, had he been here. would
nave quickly realized the danger In us
ana to civilization which the inter,a-
tionai situation of the last four years
mas constantly threatened, and hay.
Ics.hted promptly the insults and injury
unuer which we suffered? Having de.
vIueu that this nation should enter the
ilsts as a combatanta and ha wing a, ,r,,c,
sacrnice turned the scale of yictorv
Wouid ne not just as surely have de-
" Z" voice not only in the terms
100 out IN the arrangement OF a
he'tiefnent which may prevent a rarur-
renee OF war? 1t is hard 10 ara 49,.
'hing inconsistent with Washington,
po'lSy IN our present Undertaking, In
ueeH' IN MS farewell address, he seems
y nave had n prophetic vision of how
me republic, when II had grown strong
anu resourceful and seIf-reu,nt ri,h,
serve the world. for did he NOT tins
cNHort MS people Observe good faith
anu Justice toward ali nations. cultiyat to
peaoe ana harmony with all. Religion
~" H1oraiity enJoin this conduct, and
can IL be that good policy does NOT
equally enjoin it? 1t will be worthy of
a Iree' enlightened and. at no distant
period' q great nation 70 give To man
A'Hu the m~agnanimous and too novaI
I'M OF a people always guided bv
exalted justice and ~benevoience,'
\ League Of Peace
our proposed commitments with the
~ natlons or the world may be a
radical departure from our traditional
policies they may be considered as more
IDEAL h practical in their terms they
may be feared as too long a flight inro
iueallsm FOR human nature as II is az
present constituted-these are still con-
troversial subjects. upon which ! shall
not venture-but the general plan AN
not, II seems to me, be considered as In
opposition to Washington's views nor of
mis- policies, surrounded as he was with
circumstances which made such policies
IN mis- time necessary. Washington
Knew what war was, although his expe-
rience was inconsiderable as compared
with recent conditions but he knew
warfare meant to a country n
10 its people. and his constant effort was
to guard against II. Would he not surely
want the great power and influence OF
the America of today to be thrown into
the effort to avert war by any honorable
and understandable means? believe
so and II idealism will prevent warfare
and give the world n chance to recover
from what we may hope may be the last
great struggle, he would hav nae us
try II. But Washington would also have
had us keep a firm hold upon the prac-
tical problems connected with u own
Advancement and prosperity and. while
entering upon the new plan in absolute
good faith, be prepared for any vent
uality.
80 let US go about the business of
settling down 10 our own problems. hold
ing in full earnestness to our interna-
tional obligations and giving our aid.
In substantial ways, to the great expert
ment, but insisting p the handling
Of our own national affairs. our eco
nomic. racial and political questions in
a sane and practical way, which Will
keep us a great nation. united and virile.
To-day we hear much of agitation for
radical changes In u methods of gov
eminent: indeed. some alien enemies.
aided by native social neurotics, even
plan the destruction of the republic and
advise direct action or violence and
terrorism toward this end. We Will at
tend TO these matters without much
trouble, although there may be disturb
ances and attempts at disorder which
may impress the timid and the unreal
soning. But no cult which aims at the
d~ethronement of all religion and the de-
struction of law and order n justice
in America will get very far. Our peo-
pie, though they have been diluted a
bit in their racial characteristics, will
again stand the test. and the COMPARE
lively few VINO want direct action will
be likely to find plenty of II when the
time comes. Our national ideals will
Withstand without a tremor the attack
of the unfit, the criminal and the per-
verified.
I'm conclusion. may I express the
earnest hope that our younger people,
and especially our college men and
women. nay give renewed thought and
attention TO our politics, national, state
and locai-that the country, the COM
monwealth and the community may have
the benefit Of their training and their
enthusiasm. Let their studies of our
own history be constant and consistent,
That they may know exactly the things
for which our government stands and
for which our noble great have con-
tended. May they note as they pass
along how much has been accomplished
for the general good n how readily
our constitutional scheme Is responsive
TO the real needs OF our people. Let us
keep always In mind that superb char
acter whose inspiring spirit fingers
with us today, and believe with him
that there exists In the economy and
course of nature an indissoluble union
between virtue and happiness, between
duty and advantage, between the gen.
uine maxims OF an honest and m~agnani.
nous policy n the solid rewards Of
public prosperity and felicity"