The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-21
An American Justified.

cupatlonS Deen unulSturDeQ py the
cataclysmic outburst of ferocious am
bition and greed that has devastated
many Of its most beautiful and inter-
esting districts, his countrymen and
his admirers in foreign lands would
have celebrated the centennial OF
JAMES RUSSELL LowELL's birth as the
anniversary Of a literary artist of
recognized ability, reporter Of con-
temporary incidents Of insight and
sagacity, receptive and judicious
student of the past. The tributes to
his genius would have been interest
ing and enliveAing.
But the circumstances surrounding
the observances now in progress are
such that neither the form nor the
manner In which LowErE gave express
sion to his thoughts and impressions
takes first place In the public mind.
The substance Of his message makes
the primary appeal to his countrymen;
the lesson he continually and fervently
returned to engrosses their attention
to the subordination II not to the ex.
clusion Of the less vital matter Of Its
adornment and outward garb.
As If Influenced by the fact his natal
day was the anniversary Of that on
which GEORGE WASHINGTON was born,
LOWELL was prominently the protag-
onist of American democracy. Of hu.
man equality, Of the doctrines that
inspired the Declaration of Indepen.
dence and produced the Constitution.
Of the beneflcent accomplishments
and possibilities Of the republic CT
which he was a distinguished citizen,
Of the essential virtue of the great
mass of free men and free women.
The barbed shaft of his illuminating
wit, the excoriating satire Of which
he was a master among masters,
were directed against individuals.
His lampoons were destructive Of the
false pretence and the pompous
shams Of lotteries and exclusive So
cieties. But these inspiring manifes-
tations Of contempt, these issues Of
remorseless ridicule, had ever behind
them a splendid faith in the great
experiment that came near to wreck
under his very eyes. to the salvation
Of which he contributed tirelessly
and brilliantly.
Thus 1t is to LOWELL the patriot,
LOWELL the undaunted American,
LOWELL the devoted expounder. de.
fender, and corrector of his country
that attention will inevitably and I'M
consciously turn at this period in the
country's history. At another time.
perhaps ON the two hundredth ami.
versary Of his birth. when a League
of Nations has done Its perfect work,
when supernationalism has merged
into internationalism, when boundary
lines have been wiped out and men
swear their very lives to defend the
earth in general instead of to protect
their homes and firesides, when pa
triotism is remembered only as pa
rochial and provincial weakness Of by.
gone generations, the life of LOWELL
may be read as the life of a literary
person only; but that time has not YET
arrived. Instead, to-day his spirit OF
pure confidence In his country. hit
militant defiance Of her calumniators
his Astounding faith In her future, com
mand the eye and fill the mind.
Nor has the nation to which LOWELL
i. gave so much and from which he
demanded so much cause to hang Its
head in shame as it scans again the
high words of his confidence anC
urgings. He lived to see it firmly re
established in unquestioned and un
questionable power after the terrible
test of internecine war; he saw laiG
deep and sound in the blood of men OF
his own generation and the genera
ton that followed his the founda
lions for a new and unshakable ma
tionalism; and had his life covered
the stage of development from which
we are now emerging. he would have
had reason to rejoice in the fulfil
met.t vi his hopes and thsss.sslcatior
of his vision.
There would have been from thi
: acute and wise observer sharp re
proofs, merited rebukes, caustic re
: minders Of the frailty Of humal
nature; our weaknesses and our fail
D ures would not have escaped hi
!. searching eye. Yet he would have seel
e q nation capable not only Of under
I standing it's needs and It's obligations
9 but competent to minister to the frs
and to fulfil the second. He woul,
Q have beheld community of purpos
heartening to every lover of America
u unanimity of sentiment amazin
to even the most optimistic student
o Of the national life, determinatio,
L to follow the path Of duty, no matte
V where 1t led, and an adaptability
: the harsh conditions imposed by pr
Q vations undergone to sustain a grea
d ideal that would have justified hi
l. most ardent wishes and surpassed hi
n most rosy expectation.
# In LOWELL the nation has an expo
" nent of that splendid patriotism tn
1t enlightened New Englanders OF hi
II geneEation brought to so fine fioweI
ing'that it penetrated and upllfted th