Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1922-05-11


present time may be then styled as
the Age of Invention, the Electrical
Age, the Railroad Age or the Money
Age. However, not being able to
approximate the centuries ahead of
US it is of course impossible for one
to do more than guess at no wthe
present era will impress the people of
the distant future. We may progress
so far in our inventive genius that a
perspective of this time will only
reveal it to have been the birth of
human inventive genius.
Three Score and Ten.
[ have lived through a consider
able expanse of time myself, having
almost attained to my proverbial
three score years and ten, and | have
been very much impressed with the
question Of why the march of civil
cation was unattended by very much
inventive genius until the present
century. Certain it is that there
has been more advance during the
century past than during any thou
sand years in the worlds history.
| do not contend that human ma
ture Is very much changed from its
characteristics of the ages past, but
[ do assert that the miraculous me-
chanical developments of recent
times have reacted heavily upon hui
man conditions. There is little doubt
that the morals of the people have
been affected through our new-found
freedom, and that we are confused in
the living out of our Interpretation
Of liberty as against license.
Many of our students and philisC-
piers and moralizers are expressing
great discoura cement at what is
termed the breaking down of our hu-
man integrity. Many of our thinkers
believe that the morals of our Ameri-
can people are at low ebb. Others
try to be more hopeful, pointing out
sonal freedom and greater govern
mental guarantees of liberty that peo-
pie are only asserting their natural
instincts, without bad intent, and they
point out that there is now broader
human charity, more gentleness Of
soul and greater freedom from bigo-
try than ever before.
Need for Human Character.
But the great crime wave which
we hear SO much of has upset US
and discouraged US very profoundly.
There is indeed a growing need for
human character. In the business
world this is recognized. I spent
eighteen years as a member of our
United States Congress, then retired
and practiced the profession of law
for an equal number of years, during
which latter period | supervised a
banking institution, and I feel that |
have some right to announce my OBJ
servations upon human character.
Very often we hear the question
asked, 'Is the world growing BETTER"
L am sure that it is. But there are
some very grave tendencies now be-
setting civilization. Yes, we still
nave honest people, and most people
IN our own great country are honest
and good. But the greatest rewards
come to those who have energy and
honesty. Indeed, the three greatest
requisites are, energy, integrity and
intelligence.
The greatest banker of his time has
said that character is the greatest
asset in the financial world. I have
only recently read Roger Babson's
book, 1.-The Fundamentals of PROSPER
ity," in which he makes the very tell
ing point that religion is the greatest
need Of the present. l hold that it is
very difficult to disassociate religion
and character. Mr.. Babson tells us of
two men who stood near the great
roaring Niagara Falls, and one of
them said, There is the greatest I'M
developed power in the world" and
his companion replied, "No, the
greatest undeveloped power in the
world today is the human soul"
Moral Let Down.
The moral let-down so generally de-
plored now is commonly attributed to
the back-wash of the World War. but
L am not prepared to believe this
l do not believe that a person has the
right to defend war, except by way
OF extenuating the sin of it bv
pointing out that it is necessary evil.
or an unavoidable contingency in the
life of the world. But America has
not yet addressed herself to an unjust
war, and the most thrilling and ex-
alting fact in the course of our be-
loved nation is to be found in the
justice Of it's various wars. It is true
that the World War revealed many
ugly aspects of human nature, for we
are unable to forget the ''profteer."
the Stacker and political traitor.
But American ideals are higher and
purer now than prior to April 6, 1917.
L think the aptest and saddest indict-