Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-07-04
AMERICAS WORK.

The Declaration of Independence might as wei
be torn up and its shreds thrown to the paper mill.
II II was declaration merely of political independ
ence of Great Britain and if it has nothing but ar
historic meaning now.
But it will not be torn up 1t can not be lai6
up among the archives and the curosties For il
throbs with contemporary meaning.
The founders of this country wrote a Declaration
Of Independence good for 1922 it was for 1916
They did not have their fingers crossed when il
came to poserty. This country was meant to be
eternally independent.
Independent of what? OF political browbeating
by Great Britain? That was just the beginning He
has not read history Alright who does not find be.
tween the lines the faith of forefathers that
this land Of ours had peculiar and a noble des-
tiny. They knew that because of the very isolation
which has made of our great men not so lady-
like in their manners scintillating with the
superficial culture of the schools, were meant to
be different. Our rawness, the lack of some of the
graces of life due to the stern necessities of
pioneer country. We inherit the tradition of Lin
coin. the backwoodsman, of Washington the sim
pie surveyor and country gentleman of jefferson,
the democrat 1t is both foolish and futile to pre-
tend otherwise.
But with that tradition comes independence
ruggedness, sincerity, the will and the power to
serve. We can, if we WILL write the Declaration OF
Independence anew. We can be independent of
European national jealousies and trade rivalres
We be Independent of the old worlds cock
suredness that all men were NOT created free and
equal. We can, if we will, prove that diplomacy is
not lying and cheating tawdry game of beggar
my neighbor. We can prove If we WILL that IDEAL
ism is practical-that it will work.
But can't 40 it by being afraid OF what En-
rope will think of We can't do it by letting our
foreign policy be made for us either in London,
Paris Berlin. We can't do it by letting American
trade interests pave the road for artillery wagons
to follow We cans do it by letting those who
shout in the of patriotism-the kind of pa
triotism with the kick of machinery behind it
shut up imprson those who speak aloud of
national waste folly.
But it can be DONE and done by the very medi-
cine that the Declaration of Independence pre-
scribed as a remedy-democracy.
If the Declaration of Independence any
thing, 1t means that there classes, but just
citizens, in this country, and that every last of
owes group, no interest no party anything,
but all the rest of every bit Of faith, ideal
ism and power that is in him.
The task of this country is clearly apparent be-
tween the lines of the Declaration of Independence.
Americas work in the world is to unleash the world
longing for brotherhood and peace from the social
political and economic cords that bind it.
The peculiar genius of this country is in its
idealism, choked, discouraged. sneered at, but
active beneath all the surs and insults Of the prac-
teal old world. America must fashion wings to
its aspirations 1t must cobbe out league
boots for its good intentions. 1t must ascend
ing steps on the precipice of inertia and folly by
which its dreams of peace and plenty for all man
kind may climb.