New-York tribune., 1921-06-20

your rare privileges of an education
here have endowed you, to render some
unselfsh service in the world, to give
expression to strong convictions, TO
stand courageously for what you be-
lieve to be right and expend your ef-
forts in season and out of season to
promote rather than retard the pro-
gressive spirit Of your day. You may
perhaps feel that an individual, after
all, among thousands and millions can
do little. / would answer, he can do
Recently | have read with absorbed
interest Bishops Life of Roosevelt,
and l have been impressed anew by
the power Of single life. There was
one who lifted a whole people to q
higher level of moral idealism by his
clear ringing word and conspicuous
achievement. In every critical emer-
gency of public life he possessed the
instinct and the disposition to sense
moral issue and then he fearlessly
fought for it and gloriously won."
Can't Shirk World Problems
Speaking of the position of America
in international affairs, DR.. Hibben
said:
"The universal law, that opportunity
appears in the way of duty is true. not
only of the individual life but of the
life of the nation as we'll. We are in
d position in America at the present
crisis of the worlds history where,
following the line of least resistance,
it seems to many to be wise on our
part to buy immunity from world re-
sponsibilities, and consequently world
opportunities, in order that we may
develop our own resources and be a
realm unto ourselves. We found our
selves unprepared for war; we were
likewise unprepared for peace. We
are sadly unprepared if we do not see
to-day in the possible international
relationships the way of responsibility
which must lead inevitably to the open
door of great world opportunity. We
cannot afford TO purchase freedom
from international obligation by pay
ing the price of loss of international
power and leadership.@
Resents Selfish Patriotism
There is a cry to-day which is heard
throughout our land, America first
If this signifies, as I am afraid it is so
often regarded, a self-centered policy
and program for our international life,
! resent it with all my being. | be-
lieve, however, most profoundly in the
idea of America first, if we interpret
this national slogan as America first in
the service of the world; first in it's
ready response to the worlds needs
and its wise and generous leading of
the nations of the earth into the larger
life of mutual understanding and con-
certed action in obtaining the lib
erty, equality and fraternity which
form the reward and the glory of all
human endeavor; first to use its great
power and influence to realize the de-
sire of all peoples Of the earth, the
disarmament of the nations and the
permanent peace of the world.
although the beginnings of this CEN
tury record the most terrible and disas-
trous war of all history, it may yet be
known as the century of peace, if you
and the men of your generation so will
it. Although the first years of this
century are characterized by materialis-
tic doubt and materialistic drift, it may
yet be known distinctively as the CEN
tury of moral and spiritual progress, if
you so will it. Although a pagan phi
losophy of life may seem unduly to pre-