Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-12-06

sidered extremists and radicals-ac-
cused of treason against their king.
Now history has given them a place
in the list of men with breath Of
vision and nobility of purpose.
In the dark days of the Revolution
when the devotion and fortitude of
the little American army was tested
to the utmost if strength or courage
had failed its commander the history
of the human race might have been
written in a minor key.
But Washington, true to his con-
victions, never faltered and after the
war when problems of peace, no
less serious or difficult of solution
than those of war were to be solved
it was this same leader who came
forward to guide the new govern
ment, through the first eight years of
its existence. Little wonder then that
he has won the title First in war;
first in peace, and first in the hearts
of his countrymen.
In this formative period of Amer
ica's history when all the world was
watching the experiment in free gov
| eminent there were other statesmen
who gave their opinion and influence
to the making of new nation, JEFF
ferson with his cardinal political doc
trine that the people should be trust
ed to govern themselves, and Ham
ilton with his idea that government
by the people was no government at
all-each contributed his invaluable
services to the new government.
Finally these two doctrines were
temporarily reconciled and the
"demoeratized nationally" of Mon
roe's Ezra of Good Telling" was the
result.
When in the next generation these
same two doctrines in new form
and applied to new question came
up and Threatened 70 disrupt the
union; when men who believed them
selves legally and constitutionally
right fought with men Who belle yed
in their duty to preserve the union,
Providence gave us a man who helped
to maintain our state against internal
division.
Finally in 1914 when the United
States entered the world war she
proved to other nations that she was
a world power and capable of de-
Tending herself against the unprovok-
ed aggression of an autocratic power.
What is to be the future of this
nation based on ideas of freedom
and social and political equality
founded by Washington, maintained
by Lincoln, defended by Wilson?
Our democracy is called upon to
justify itself. Shall we use our own
unlimited resources and ideal states
manship to help others less fortunate
or shall we be content with what
we have, maintain our splendid iso-
lation?"
President Harding in addressing
the disarmament conference recently,
proclaimed to the world that the
United States "has no sordid ends to
serve. that we apprehend no CON
quest, that we only want to do that
finer, nobler thing which no nation
can do alone" 1t is true no nation
can do this alone and if the present
conference is to be a success sacri-
fices, must be made by all parties con-
cerned-our. nation as well as any
other. 1t is to be hoped that some
understanding may be eacaed which
will be the basis Of lasting friend
ship among nations.
In conclusion it is necessary to
mention--even emphasize--individ-
ual responsibility to community,
state, and nation. The aim of democ-
racy is the liberty and welfare Of the
individual. Every right of citi-
zen is accompanied by duty. Our
schools are maintained to teach these
responsibilities and duties. But, in
training for citizenship and in teach
| ing patriotism the idea should be con-
tveyed that ours is a perfect nation,
that our constitution as written over
"a hundred years ago has no mistakes,