Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-25
COOLIDGE PRAISES
RED CROSS IDEALS
BEFORE CONVENTION
Continued from Page u

the president said, was illustrated
by men who went to the rescue of
Europe when their own liberty and
the liberty of the world was in
peril, but, who, after victory was
assured, retired from the field "un-
encountered by spoils, independent,
unattached and unbought.'
President Coolidges address, his
first formal public utterance, was
devoted to praise of the qualities
which have made the Red Cross a
success. Chief among these, he
said, was its practical idealism.
Charity Ancient Doctrine
1.-THE American Red Cross is a
modern application of an ancient
principle" the president said. THE
idea of charity is very old. 1t is
included in the teachings of the
earliest philosophers. 1t is one of
the fundamental doctrines of our
Bible. 1t is spiritual conception
OF human relationship. 1t is life in
obedience to the things that are
unseen.
Throughout history men have
been prone to put their trust in
other things and have failed. They
have sought for power through ma
terlal resources alone. They have
thought it might be gained by the
accumulation of great riches.
Ihey nave attempted to rely upon
the naked force of armies and ma
V1es, conquering by the might of
the sword. But these forces are not
the ultimate rulers of mankind. They
are necessary for security, as po-
lice and criminal courts, and bolts
and hQpc 1rn
adJuncts of peace. But they are neg
ative forces. They do not create,
they resist. They are not the ulti.
mate force in the world. They do
not make the final determination
among men. Over them all is
higher power.
Mankind has not yet, can not
net, discard the use Of these forces.
1t is significant, however, that the
great nations have at last agreed
upon their limitation. But it is even
more significant that civilization
is coming to rely more and more
upon moral forces. 1t is because the
Red Cross has been a practical ap-
plication of that principle, that it
has been such a tremendous sue
cess. 1t makes it's appeal for sup
port directly to the conscience of
mankind. 1t does not attempt to
function through the direct action
of organized government.
No Hint of COmpuIsiOn
sit does not have in it any ele-
ment of compulsion. It is the vol
untary offering of the people them
selves. Whenever and wherever an
emergency has resulted in human
suffering, to the extent of its ability,
it administers whatever may be nee
essary for temporary relief.
"It is in this direction that there
lies the hope of real progress. The
ancient ideals of human brother
hood, of service, the application of
the golden rule, of peace on earth
and good will toward men, are idle
dreams, unless they can be translat-
ed into practical action. 1t is neces-
sary on the one hand, to avoid the
illusions of the Missionaries, ard on
the other hand, the indifference of
the selfish. Each individual and
each nation owe their first duty to
themselves. Beyond that, there is
the obligation of the strong to serve
the weak, but to administer such
service in a way that Will not de-
stroy or degrade by making mendi-
cants, but will restore and strength
en- by making cha acter. 1t is the
policy which helps in an emergency,
but REALIZES that, finally, each indi-
Vidual and each nation must work
out their own destiny.
THE constant need Of civilization
is for a practical idealism of this
kind. 1t does not attempt to per-
form the impossible. 1t does not
seek to reform merely by an act of
legislation, thinking it can unload
its burden on the government, and
be relieved from further effort. 1t
does not undertake to assume respon-
sibility for all humanity. But it
realizes that redemption comes only
through sacrifice. When a crisis
arises, it does not hesitate to go
out and make whatever sacrifice is
necessary to master the occasion.
Like Nations Course
lit is this kind of practical ideal
ism that is represented in the his
tory of our country, a deep faith
in spiritual things, tempered by a
hard commonsense adapted to the
needs of this world. 1t has been illus
trated in the character Of the men
who planted colonies in the wilder
ness and raised up great states
around the church and the school
house, who bought their independ-
ence with their blood and cast out
slavery by the sacrifice of their