The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-03-31
THE LoNe-RANeE CONSCIENCE
(By Robert Quillen)


fellows conscience is universal We
see his faults as we cannot see our
own, and the effort to reform him
gives us delightful feeling of
Righteousness. Quit your ugly ways"
we say to him. "and become as
immaculate and incorruptible as we
are"
Thus have we individuals losing
sleep to worry about an unregenerate
neighbor,. public officials neglecting
their own duties in an effort to guide
a neighboring state in paths of
righteousness, and nations devoting
their energies to the development of
primitive peoples who are in posses
sion of coveted resources.
America delights in rebuking Eu-
rope for it's sins. Deep in his heart
the average American has ccnvic-
tion that the millennium would draw
perceptibly nearer if America should
be given a moral mandate for the
world. This feeling of superiority,
coupled with consciousness of ply
sical strength. inspires him with a
desire to go a-proselyting. He would
take the world under his wing. He
would shield it, guide it and spank
it, and get the glory for himself.
If there is in any corner of the
earth little country builied by
great neighbor the American yearns
to kick the big fellow on the shins
and help the little fellow to his feet.
And if there is in any corner of the
earth a country large or small that
has not yet attained the degree of
Righteousness the American finds in
America he would by logic, cajolery
or force teach it to mend it's ways.
The desire to reform other coun-
tries is but natural reaction of race
pride. The desire to protect the
weak is the natural reaction of a
consciousness of power. The two
desires. are the warp and woof of
vanity.
AS men who have consecrated their
lives to the business of reforming
their fellows are blinded to their
own faults and follies, so nations go
a-crusading and overlook the need of
cleaning their own door yards.
Distance lends enchantment. We
shed tears for the destitute in
distant land because we cannot see
them or smell them If there are
other destitute in our own town we
wonder why they do not try to be
somebody. Water, we say, is free.
They might at least keep themselves
clean.
This long distance conscience per-
suades US to do much good in the
world. The pity is that the con-
science doesn't begin work at home.
OF late we have become much in
terested in weak and undeveloped
peoples, victims of the greed of the
great-people glorified by the ro-
nance of distance.
Are they weaker than our own
children? Are they less developed
than our own illiterate?
There are Industries in America
that fatten by the toll of little child
ren--little children with bodies kept
thin by the stagnant air of factories
little children who should be in
school or romping in the sunshine.
These. are weak They are unde-
veloped.. Why are no tears shed for
these? .t
John Doe. his mark. There are in
America thousands of adults who
cannot so much as write their names
adults with the minds of children.
These are the prey of demagogues--
victims of the trickster and the
near-anarchist with axes to grind.
They are Americas greatest liability.
And these children who are kept
from school, who weaken their bodies
and their minds to fatten the purses
of hard masters, are the raw material
from which another generation of
agitators will fashion a new social
unrest. To-day they pay a profit; to-
morrow their masters will call them
a menace.
There was once an owner of
store who employed many girls at
fiat, salary of four dollars the week.
He was very pious man and gave a
tenth of his income to the Lord.
The greater part of this tenth was
given to a rescue home for fallen
girls. He was thus enabled to keep
down expenses and give public
demonstration of his piety, but it
was very hard on the girls.
1t may be that one who employs
little children is enabled to make a
greater profit and therefore has
greater sum of money to devote to
charitable purposes, but one who
loves children is free to question
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