Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-05-11

oxnression of that indivdualism. anc
the pioneer spirit Is the response &c
the challenge Of opportunity, to the
challenge Of nature to the challenge
- life 70 the call of the frontier. That
sntrit need never die for lack of some
thing for it to achieve. There will al
vavs he q frontier to conquer or to
hold as long as men think, plan and
dare Our American individualism has
received much of its character from
our contacts with the forces of nature
on new continent. 1t evolved gov
ernment without official emissaries to
show the way; 1t plowed and SOW ed
two score of great states; 1t built
4 roads. bridges, railways. cities; 1t car
bed forward every attribute OF high
civilization over a continent. The days
nj the pioneer are not over. There are
continents of human welfare Of which
we have penetrated only the coastal
plain. The great continent OF science
is as vet explored only on its borders,
and 1t is only. the pioneer who Will
penetrate the frontier In the quest for
new worlds to conquer. The very
eenius of our institutions has been
given to them by the pioneer spirit.
Our indlvidualism is rooted In our very
nature. 1t is based on conviction born
Of experience. Equal opportunity. the
demand for a fair chance, became the
formula of American individualism
because it is the method Of American
achievement.
After the absorption of the great
plains of the West came the era of
Industrial development with the new
complex of forces that 1t has brought
us. Now haltingly, but with more
surety and precision than ever before
and with a more conscious understand
ing Of our mission, we are finding solu-
ton of these problems arising from
new conditions, for the forces of our
social system can compass and COM
prise these.
Our individualism is no middle
ground between autocracy-whether
of birth, economic or class origin-and
socialism. Socialism of different varie-
ties may have something to recon-
mend IL as an Intellectual stop-look-
Md-listen sign, more especially for Old
World societies. But it contains only
destruction to the forces that make
progress in our social system. Nor
does salvation come by any device for
concentration Of power, whether po-
htfcai or economic, for both are equal
ly reyersions TO Old World autocracy
In new garments.
Salvation will not come to us out
OF the wreckage of individuaIlsm-
what We need today Is steady devo-
ZION to better, brighter, broader in
diyidualism-an individualism that
carries increasing responsibility and
service TO our fellows. Our need Is not
Tor way out but for way forward.
we found our way out three centuries
ago when our forefathers left Europe
Ior these shores, to set up here COM
monwealth conceived In liberty and
dedicated to the development Of indi-
vlduality.
There are malign social forces other
than our failures that would destroy
our progress. There are the equal dan
gers both of reaction and radicalism.
Inc perpetual howl Of radicalism Is
that II Is the sole voice of liberalism
tnat devotion to social progress Is its
neiu alone. These men would assume
mat all reform and human advance
must come through government They
nave forgotten that progress must |
eolne from the steady lift Of the indi |
riuuai and that the measure of ma
uonal idealism and progress Is the
quality OF idealism in the individual. |
Inc most trying support Of radicalism
cones from the timid or dishonest
niillds that shrink from facing the re-
suit or radicalism itself but are de-
'o'eu 10 defense Of radicalism as proof
VI liberal mind. Most theorists who
senouhce our indiyidualism as social
paSis seem TO have a passion for lgnor-
hnce OF It's constructive ideals.
An even greater danger is the de-
s'ruellYe criticism OF minds too weak
" 100 partisan TO harbor constructive
'ps"s' For such, criticism is based
ep0u me distortion OF perspective or
s1HD'hs Misrepresentation. There Is
"e'ef danger from the radical himself
sD''' me structure and confidence o,
soe'eiy has been undermined by the
~''nionement OF destructive criticism.
D's"aouFe criticism can certainly
va, ,,"p 20 revolution unless there are
,,'9s' wiling 10 withstand The meliee
w hoNs Ia return FROM refutailon,
!. ''s n'en We'll said ubeg revolution H.
~ summer thunderstorm clearing ihe
'',"'''pNfle ID medelp society u q
' 's'"'q9 leaYlng ~ rs path tAe De-
r','' homes " millions Md lhell
M women and children
q, n''f Nfe plso those WHO lnslsI thal
,.. i''u'f must W y repetition ~ ihe )
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