The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-09-27


the Red Cross has just completed
one of the most important relief
campaigns of it's history, and Col.
William N. Haskell, director of
American relief in Russia and
Greece, were among the speakers.
Washington, D. ca deep faith in
spiritual things, tempered by hard
common sense adapted to the needs
of the world, is the kind of practical
idealism that is represented in the
history of America, President Coolidge
said today in an address before the
annual convention Of the American
Red Gross. The people, he said, lare
not likely to adopt any, other course.
The idealism- of which he spoke, the
president said, was illustrated by the
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 secured, retired from
the field "unencumbered by spoils, in
dependent, unattached and unbought."
President Coolidge's address, his
first formal utterance, was devoted to,
made the Red Cross a success. Chief
among these, lie said, was it's prac-
tical idealism.
For Practical Idealism.
The American Red Cross is a mod
ern application of an ancient prin-
ciple, the president said. The idea of
charity is very old. 1t is included in
the teachings of the earliest philosop-
hers. 1t is one of the fundamental
doctrines of our bible. 1t is a spirit
ual 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 sthrough material resources.
alone. They have thought it might be
gained by the accumulation of great
races They have attempted TO rely
upon the naked force of armies and
navies, conquering by the might of
the sword But these forces are not
the ultimate rulers of mankind. They
are necessary for security, as police
and criminal courts and bolts and
bars are necessary. They are adjuncts
forces. They do not create, they. re-
sist They are not the ultimate force
in the world They do. not make the
final determination among men. Over
them all is higher power.
Can't Discard Old Forces.
mankind has not yet, cannot yet,
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 sig
nifcant that civilization is coming to
rely more and more upon moral force.
1t is because the Red Cross has been
a practical application of that princi-
pie, that it has been such tremend-
Gus success. 1t makes its appeal for
support directly to the conscience of
mankind 1t does not attempt to
function through the direct action of
organized government. 1t does not
have in it an element of compulsion.
1t is the voluntary offering of the
people themselves. Whenever and
wherever an emergency has resulted
in human suffering, to the extent
of it's ability it administers what
ever may be necessary for temporary
relief. srL
at is in this direction that there
lies the hope of real progress. The
ancient ideals of human brotherhood
of service, the application of the
golden rule of peace on earth and
good will towards men, are idle dreams
unless they can be translated into
practical action. 1t is necessary, on
the one hand, to avoid the illusions
IL
hand, the indifference of the selfish.
Beyond that there is the obligation
of the strong to, serve the weak, but
to administer such service in a way
that will not destroy or degrade by
making mendicants, but restore and
strengthen by making character. 1t is
the policy which helps in an emerg
eney but healizes that, finally each
individual and each nation must work
out their own destiny.
"The constant need of civilization
is for practical idealism of this kind.
1t does not attempt to perform the
impossible. 1t does not seek to re-
form merely by an act of legislation
thinking that it can unload its bur-
den on the government and be relieved
from further efforts. 1t does not
undeTJake 60 assume responsibility Tor
all humanity. But it realizes that
redemption comes only through sacri-
fees. When crisis arises, it does
not hesitate to go out and make
whatever sacrifice is necessary to
master the occasion,
Turns to Nations History.
'It is this kind of practical idealism
that is reported in the history of
our country, deep faith in spiritual
things, tempered by hard common
sense adapted to the needs of this
world. 1t has been illustrated in the
character of men who planted colonies
in the wilderness and raised up great
states around the church and the
schoolhouse, who bought their inde-
pendence with their blood and cast