Evening star., 1923-06-10
Holds All Minds Great TODAY
If Consistency Is Smallness

tariff in behalf of industries of thosx
states and why old fashioned Jef-
fersonian individualists viii cnam-
pion both paternalistic and com
munistic measures Such men are
great as viewed in Emerson's mirror.
for they are not troubled the Least
bit about consistency.
If changed and changing positions
in the political and business llfe ~
America were clearly explained I"
the people there would not be -
much suspicion touching conduct.
Many people would not think as they
do now that the business outlook o.
America is not from principle bui
from advantage. And fewer voters
would look upon politicians as TIM
tests when they went to the pollS
Influential men have fallen unde!'
suspicion and their high places which
ought 70 be the mark Of power ana
service bring forth laugh when theE
do not produce a curse. II innuencN
is to he restored, inconsistency must
be explained and explained along the
line Of principle and not OF persona
preferment or private gain.
= = = !:
Inconsistency in the thought eh
rression and conduct Of today 1s corr
plicated by the sharp cleavage be
tween preaching and practice. re-
instance, American business pr"
claims that competition Is the HE o.
trade. This may not be always ana
essentially true but il is the shi"
boleth Of most business men.
Trained in the school of democrat
we utter 1t as self-evident tTLtl
Yet by ways that are dark ana D.
tricks that are vain men VINO Pre-
claim the principle Of compettion
may be found engaged in foster!nI
monopolies Why do they not ie
nounce the principle or competlt"h
as a, fraud. a delusion and snart
and openly support their contentini
that every one from producer TO Coz
sumer would be benefited by re,
sonab1e monopoly? All would agr"'
that men have a right TO entertaa
such a view. TO defend il and 10 arg.
it's adoption as part of the econon
policy OF our land. I have no dou0
they could convince many OF US tia
certain businesses conducted as "
monopoly. properly regulated ana con
trolIel. would serve everyone eette
than under free competition. But
the way TO settle the question is Z"
create a clear dividing line of though
and argument, not by preaching or"
way and practicing differently. Great
ness of mind. Emerson 10 the con
closed by proclaiming the principl"
OF competition and estaelishlns
monopoly.
Principles theories. war cries ar
oftimes voiced parrot-lke. We keet
repeating our shibboleths after t.
last man has crossed the ford w
do no; seek q new cry for the new
day. With no intention of acting u
accordance with the principles OF IT.
past. we mouth them just the SAM
and act as we jolly we'll please. II
consistency is explained away on U
Ground of exuediency. We do not dis
ayow the past. but reproclaim OF
old faith and then justify our con
duct in conflict with 1t by the condl
tion which confronts US. Far De i
from me to find fault with any MAJ!
who meets condition in the bes;
way possible. That is his duty. ldit.
itself is an everlasting strusgie Do
tween theory and condition. But ]
am yoeaking only of those principle
whicS have TO do with Temporal.
and t+5anescent conditions. net tho~'
which measure up To the standard ..
mora! principles which never mus
be loss sight of. never compromise"
with. when these come into play sci
and selfshness must die the deatn
in the mind of the really great MAI
But ] repeat, consistency should mar
every man unless and until he has
the courage TO explain his change
Yet do not look for this TO come t.
pass. If it did, some supposedly grea'
men made great by autosuggestiol
might he found to be takers.
Copyright 1923. by 2lst Century Press