Evening star., 1922-06-04
L. S: Closely Bound
By Kinship to Europe
Greatest Danger to Americas Future Seen in Attitude
of Self-Complacency To.uard Founders of
Civilization, From Which Ne,Oer Sprung.

music here speak not only in COM
mon conception, but in a common
language. And If we cannot claim a
moral superiority for our artistic. ut
can we make this claim for our COM
merce and industry. The business
aims and Industrial methods OF the
two continents, although not iden-
tical, are similar and are constantly
tnteracting.
There remains the possibility Of our
moral superiority in politics Our
theory of democracy we owe, OF
course, to certain European philos-
ophers. We were the first to put this
theory into practice and to make 1t
work Here, however. Europe has not
been slow to learn from us. Western
Europe. which at the time OF our ma
tional inception was still largely au-
tocratic, now has democratic institu-
tions, some of which are more ad-
vanced than our own, while as for
European political theory it has de-
veloped so radically as to leave us
fortunately-far behind. and to make
US appear, to the more more liberal ran1suro Euro
tive people-"one of the pillars of the
reaction" in Lenin's hostile phrase
Our political institutions were epoch
making and have had vast infu-
ence. But even this splendid exam
Pile" does not prove our moral su-
periority
Lead in External Politics.
In our internal politics. it is too bad
to have to say, and yet 1t must pc
said that we are at least as open TO
criticism as the leading European ma
tions while there are those who MAIN
ternal politics we have taken the
lead-and 1 hope we shall continue to
lead-in certain international re-
forms. Our ethical standards are
probably higher than those OF other
nations However, We have to remem-
Der that our situation has favored US.
Our foreign problems have been less
vital than those of the European pow
ers and our temptations, consequent
ly. less great
In short, except in purely ma
terial sense, all that we in America
have and are-our people. our prln-
cipIes, our culture-came out of. or
was inspired hy. Europe, subject
merely to the adaptation and develop
ment of our national genius. To Eu-
rope we belong, and Europe to u.s.
And although the peoples OF Europe
still drag the chain of centuries OF
history, while we have cut the chaln
away and have carried out almost
unfettered our vast successful demo.
|, cratic experiment.. still the Ideals OF
the parent races and of the offspring
remain essentially the same. and IN
matters of the mind and spirit CO.
operation is so natural as to be lneV-
table.
To establish and maintain Its ma
tional character against all uncon-
genial Influences should be the first
care of every nation worthy OF the
name 1t is quite possible, however.
to guard intact ones individuality.
ones convictions and principles.
while at the same time approaching
and respecting the Individuality, the
principles and convictions OF others;
A wise people will give it's critical
scrutiny as often to its own preten-
sions as to those of it's cotempo-
raries, and will be intent rather upon
continual self REINFORCEMENT than upon
crusades of world reform or upon the
nirvanic bliss Of self-complacent
moral isolation.