Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-03-21
AMERICAS DANGERS
AND OPPORTUNITIES
Discussed by Or. William L. Sui
livan at Unitarian Church
Last Night.

A stimulating address on "Our
Country---lts Dangers and Opportuni-
ties" was heard with great interest
asst night by an audience which filed
the First Unitarian Church. Tho
speaker was DR.. William l.. Sullivan.
who Is crusading for tho Unitarian
Laymen's League In its movement to
emphasize American Ideals and
American Life" He is fluent and
forccful speaker. whose we'll modulat-
cd voice and careful diction make It a
pleasure to listen, while his grasp of
his subject is evident.
Asserting that our republic has its
place in the world as tho result OF one
Of the five great revolution, on which
modern history is based. he gave the
facts he deemed essential regarding
those revolutions and their results.
The stand of Luther in 1871, which
split asunder church and empire, was
based. he pointed out. on a religious
revolt. The next, the uprising of the
Netherlands against Spain. had re-
ligious dispute as one OF its orlgins.
The Puritan revolution in England
dethroned a king for the common
wealth; tho revolt of the American
colonies In 1775 was followed by the
closing event Of the cycle Of nearly
three hundred years, the French
Revolution. in 1889.
Underlying all OF these movements
was the aspiration for freedom. FOR
liberty, which may be characterized
as desire for a new statement OF
morality In politics Aristotle IN
| anH fsrar<x L. IN,,o huH
tained ideas along similar lines: but
untn tho Reformation they had found
no other outlet.
Until the formation OF the Amerl
can Constitution, based on tn,
Declaration OF Independence. IN,
speaker said. no form OF government
which safeguards liberty had been dc
vised.
The expression of the Declaration
Man IS endowed by his Creator
gives value TO the soul OF man a
a factor for establishing true liberty
The system or checks on authorit,
worked out in the Constitution make
the nearest approach TO the ideal forn
Of government. The French constl
tuition was wrecked by the assumption
Of authority by the Legislative brancl
) Protesting incidentally against tn
neglect of Wells, in his Outline {
, History" to duly value these two docl
: ments, he characterized this work a
, in his opinion, a subtle distiIlaton ,
? poison" and one of the symptoms (
I the decadence OF the time.
! The supremacy OF the Constitute
r over the executive Legislative and jJ
: dtcial branches Dr. sullivan consider
. the final feature of our form of so,
= ernment, and the one basis for 4
;. perruanency.
= The chief danger 10 which this
: subjected he pointed out as that ,
Z factions seeking power. with an il
4 evitable lowering OF standards ot y,
y l.tical morality.
q Second 70 this In an impatience wit
the ways and delays Of law: the "suu
!, powerfully.
As third menace. the speaker d
:, plored the loss Of the sense OF hbert
= Democracy may become deepotisn1
= ma5orities may grow 10 dominate. VI
less tho friends OF liberty are as slee
10 less as are it's enemies.
.s Finally. he pointed out, the viii
- the citizens depends on their chara
- ter. This Republic was founded
= religious men and women and c
- maintenance Of their tradition d
=, pe1ids on our following in their pa
- Of fidelity 10 -,e living COD.
a "Only on this basis will the soul
America remain true, steadfast a,
safa"