The New York herald., 1922-06-18
Jose Enrique Rodo: Author and Critic


Ariel says that the American
in the United States meaning of that
word-basis is that of the Puritan.
and that the Puritan did away with
the idea of the beautiful and substi-
tuted that of Utility. This may have
resulted in the last century but it
would have been news to Cromwell
or to the founders of New England.
There is a stage in Il e development
which ARIEL" possibly from lack of
time, overlooked. 1t is historically
true that the Puritan ideal if that
is to be considered as the American
basis. was not Utility but Duty. The
grandest description of character in
the English language is Maoaulay's
description of the Puritan who as
pired to look into the face of God
and to do His will. Has this, like
Bottom. been Translated? Or has
1t rather been transformed? There
would be many objections if it were
said that the Bible is the American
basis of character; if not, what is?
What caused the wer agairst sla-
very but a national conceI ton of
wrong? What caused the suppres-
sion of Mormonism? Nay, wi at has
fixed Prohibition in the American
Constitution? Coming down TO Lat
in-American matters, t was the SYM
pathy going with duty which brought
the Intervention in Cuba, with its
worldwide results to America. There
may be differences as 20 the rightfli-
ness of the act. but none tha. 1t was
based on duty felt by the people.
There is much truth in Rodo's
claim that the United States, or
thanks to Mr.. Roof, Americas
utilitarian. We make wealth tie
standard. We often grade people. if
not by their money. at least by the
power which money brings, even
even when We laugh Of the noureau
richie. All this no one can deny; it
is perhaps true even OF the reader of
this article. How this came is an
interesting problem which has never
been worked out, but the outline of
the development is not far to seek
Puritan England. and Cavalier Eng
land as well-for they did not differ
in their conception-came to the
New World with the inspiration OF
duty; and they met in the New
World conditions which called tor
the fullest growth of individual et-
fort and self-consc.ousness. IN
every place this included dur~ to the
family and in some sense re COM
but it was indy .6uaiism
which was the basis of Ameris an IRE
This necessarily meant the acquisi-
tion of material gains. for the battle
OF the pioneers was as much against
nature as against Indians. tie uni
versal result. both in the original
States and in those Western CON-
spring. is a self-reliant typ based
not upon the comfort" character
istic of the English, but the meaos"
characteristic of the New World.
The individualism readily takes the
form of aggression. and this is what
runs counter to the polite idisses
fGire of the southern European.
Nevertheless the old sense OF dd.y
underlies it all. and not only comes
to the surface in public movements
and public opinion. but in .xternsl
and even worldwide activities Pity
it Is that this is not appreciated ~
other nations, and particularly oy
our neighbors to the south. with
whom OEr future is bound VI And
yet Is this TO be wondered a when
we hardly appreciate the point our
selves? Rodo some years later in
tended to visit the United States. a1d
his penetrating minG would have
gone beneath the surface. But this
was not To be.
Nevertheless. his other great BOOK.
the "NotirOs de Proteo." published
in 1909. strikes very different nose.
The "Peli0ro YdnGui" C'Yankee
Peril') does not appear. unless Incl
dentally. and the message Is not %
students. but to mankind. Perhacs
the essence of what he admits Is a
book without precedent of form lies