Evening star., 1922-12-31
adams Ne,o Year Example
Inspiration to Modern Man

blessings and our obligations. And
having struck 1t. we are foolish
II the balance being on the wrong
side Of the ledger. we apply for
bankruptcy In the courts. either Of
business or morals. There is no
soul SO cursed by fate that may
not il IL will count up in memory
blessings which have been poured
into the treasury of its life. Nor
is there soul so blessed that a
candid consideration of the past
will not admit large unpaid debts to
God. to country. to humanity.
Whether as individuals or as
people. we cannot contemplate
with satisfaction the condition Of
to look with saddened ewes upon
the seemingly irrepressible con-
fict between labor and capital.
We cannot help grieving over the
proneness of each to magnify it's
grievances and to discount its
blessings. We look with shame
and fear upon the prospect that
republic. supposed to be com
posed Of men and women sufii-
enough to govern themselves
through their self-control. may be
compelled 70 fix a standard of con-
duct for its citizens and forcibly
to measure them by that standard
rather than by the golden mete-
wand of pure and undefiled de-
mocracy. We see the lowering
rights and hear the battle cry.
God and my right" but we fail
to see a ray of sunshine illumi
mating duty. Enough Of this there
is to bring tears to the eyes Of
the little boy who represents 1929.
and, alas. this Is not all.
y *-*
The peace that followed the
world war is not that peace which
other New Years had hoped would
settle like a benediction upon the
heart of man. It Is a peace that
passeth all understanding. 1t is
peace crammed with blood hatreds.
racial ambitions. national fears.
conflicting interests. deprecated
currencies. debts. doubts and
seeming desolation. 1t is a peace
so uncertain that it is being
guarded everywhere by arms and
armament. 1t Is not q good sight.
1t does not make us proud as A
full. Well might we all repeat in
unison that we have done those
things we ought not to have done
and left undone those things we
ought to have done. No. things do
not look good here or elsewhere or
anywhere.
Yet / sav unto you that in the
midst of all this doubt and SEEM
ing despair never was there New
.a.,' Il rla@
heartily to hope each other happi-
ness. II we be what we claim to
he. the freest and most democratic
people on earth; if we are what We
say we are. lovers of our fellow
men, then we may come into to-
morrow impressed with sense Of
duty. consecrated to the high
ideals of democracy. and thank
full that We are not to he carried
10 the skies on howery beds Of
ease. 1t will always be happy
New Year when We look frankly
and firmly into the eyes of duty.
+
1t will be supremely happy
New Year If in the midst of tenn
poral blessings we catch a glimpse
of our spiritual responsibility. II
life in which without misgiving
or shadow of turning we are con-
tent TO minister and not to be
ministered unto: il we forget we
are laborers and capitalists and
remember only that We are citi-
zens. not subjects: il we catch a
CLEAN of that real patriotism
which teaches that our laws are
not for class or creed or race, but
for freemen: II we cheerfully ac-
cept that supreme happiness of
life which flows from its supreme
duty to be tender and true to hu-
manity: if we realize that every
heart knoweth its own sorrow and
shall take care that we pour only
the oil and wine OF sympathy and
understanding: and. above all. II
while leading the vanguard of de-
mocracy we shall not lead it away
from the little children of the
world, but shall invite them to go
along. then. indeed. it will be a
happy New Year.
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