Evening star., 1921-10-16
BY THOMAS r. MARSHALL,
Former Vice President OF the
United States.

T 7 AVING never been anything
~ save citizen Of the United
States, I am. Of course, un-
able to say whether our
characteristics are distinctly differ
ent from those of other nationals.
But do know that we are great
people to run upon a single line of
thought or conduct. One OF our
weaknesses lies in the fact that We
SO often grow weary in we'll doing.
We are the greatest starters in the
world. but We do not always finish.
There comes an outburst of popular
passion over some real or imaginary
grievance. Cnanimity exists that
this thing must stop. that those re-
sponsible for it must be punished.
Newspapers play 1t up. An investl-
cation is ordered. Public indig1la-
ton seems thoroughly aroused. But
before the Investigation is concluded
and report is made something new
has arisen to fill first-page space and
to attract public attention.
May 1t not he SO with American
ization.' The statement that there
is vast need Of making out OF our
complex and composite population
cohesive and consistent whole needs
no argument A blind man can see
and q deaf man can hear the pro-
In, HtrPc-
tions and shouting different battie
cries.
The universal experience OF man
kind discloses that no democracy
can survive if its, destinies rest III
the hands of an ignorant and unedu-
Gated people. Men may imagine.
hone and dream that out OF the
present tyranny of Russia, exercised
in the name of democracy, feal
democracy will arise. Miracles IKE
this may occur. Nothing Is iinpos-
sible with God. But nothing less
than a miracle can bring about any
such result. So long as the Russian
peasants eat their black bread. drink
their vodka, and sign their name
with a cross they may have aspira-
tons, but they will have no propa-
bilities.
MANY persons were amazed ana
shocked at the recall OF their k'hE
hv the Greeks. Others wer" not.
This was the very thing that was
to be expected in view OF the cofui
tion of education in Greece. be NO nu'
deceived: it takes more than char-
ters and constitutions TO make Il
democracy.
Much as We boast of our federal
Constitution, thoughtful men may
as we'll engage in controversy as
10 whether the Juarez constitution
of Mexico is not a more admlraoiH
document. We all are sincerely
desirous that the efforts OF Iresi-
dent Harding and seer
Hughes looking toward friendly
relations with Mexico ana 10 thn
guaranteeing OF the lives ana
property of Americans in that re-
public may be successful. we
hone that President Ohregon may
govern with SO wise mind ana so
firm 4 hand as to restore la" ana
order. But have Il fixed opinion
that concurrently with the erortS
of our own government ana those
of Mexico there must be put IN ef-
feet a system of education that
will not only teach the Mexican
the principles of civil government.
but convince him that their main
* X X Z:
It is not the man of foreign
birth alone who needs to be Amer
izanized. In land where knowl-
edge is said to be generally diff
fused wisdom may also be said to
linser. Mr.. Edison's experiments
with college graduates revealed
what many persons discovered
long ago. Things which are as
common to some persons as the
breakfast table are wholly unfa-
miliar to many diploma holders.
Can il be said that the professors
in the institutions which turned
out the graduates are to blame?
The graduate might be pardoncd
for thinking SO when he finds his
education of small practical value.
1t seems to me il man were to
believe all that he reads and hears
about the state of education in
America, he would conclude that
he alone knew anything.
To those persons who dream that
education is information and that
the nearer a man approXimates an
encyclopedia the closer he comes
to the perfection of knowledge
this condition may seem startling,
but to those of us who hold facts
as of secondary Importance to
principles, which are of primary
Importance, the condition Is not at
all alarming. Far moro serious is
%hn 0usation aR tn the effect the