The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-10-31

dane court has jurisdiction, that for
every crucial complexity affecting
humanity there is master key to its
solution. But the spiritual purpose
stops there. Given the means, men
and women must attend to their own
temporal salvation and safety. Other
wise civilization itself pays the ira
gic price of failure. Without COM
prehension and constructiveness on
the part of the people, in time single
great problem may become a con-
Stunning catastrophe.
Today this country is acutely con-
fronted by one outstanding problem
beside which all other national diff
culties re transient and trivial.
Properly to measure the MANAGING
proportions of this problem, to deter
mine and apply the just and lasting
remedy, is the supreme task of all
true Americans.
| Our cause is true Americanism.
This means in all vital things SUI
perior Christian civilization for Amer
lea. Our destiny is the common well
fare, materially and mentally, ply
sically and spiritually, upon a plane
high above any mankind has ever
known. We have the heritage, the re-
sources, the opportunity, for the ac-
hievment of the noblest and best in
human happiness and human power.
Our crusade has that glorious goal.
We would attain and forever hold a
national pre-eminence, not in selfish
ness or vanity, but because therein
lies the greatest usefulness both for
ourselves and to the world.
l am not unmindful of many in
fluences that retard the ideals of our
Republic; but this fundamental to
them all; that in every phase and in
terdependent relations of mankind in
commerce and school and state, it is
the composite people that ultimately
prevail. Their common character,
their capacity, the mean denomination
of their motives, fix the standard.
This or that smaller superior element
may for brief moments predominant
and give upward direction to national
tendencies, but finally comes the in
exorable level of the mass. That is
inevitable. It is Gods law. Every
minute and every million years of hu-
man history prove it. There is no
escape from that conclusion, nor any
possible evasion of its consequences.
All else, other than the inherent or
acquired common character of the ma
tional life-the composition of our
peoples relatively unimportant.
Our public institutions may become
perverted, or inadequately keep pace
with evolution in other fields; they
can always and quickly be altered to
conform to ancient principles and
modern needs.
Political issues may exist, or arise,
to try and test our craftsmanship.
There may come dark, depressing per-
iods of prostituted public powers; but
such problems are comparatively
transient and trivial. In a single de-
cade it would be possible completely
to change both elections and legisla-
ton, to provide an entirely different
order of public service, from commits
sioners to cabinet.
Even with economic conditions, it
is the same. No industrial injustice,
however entrenched or complicated,
could long withstand the mighty on
slaught of public opinion based upon,
and having for its object, the right
remedial action.
I recognize fully the political, gov
ernmental, economic and social prob
lens of this generation. I do not de-
precate their pressing Importance
But the time has come to look far be-
yond any or all of them to this great
er American problem of our composite
people. That is the bedrock of every
national danger, and hope. 1t is fund
amental to and Of everything that
makes up the national life. It is not
transient nor elastic. The streams of
population that have been and are
pouring in upon US are ages old in
racial character and capacity. Where
decade might suffice for the solution
of any single passing evil, centuries
and cycles of time would be required
to affect materially vital alteration
of the mould in which God has fash
Toned whole races of people.
We are the melting pot of the
world, problem and a responsibility
faced by no other people. Into it has
been poured, almost promiscously,
perhaps in recent years designedly,
every dross ingredient of citizenship
that the earth produces. The good and
the bad have haphazardly been thrown
together, to be turned out as the ma
tion's human metal under the same
conditions. No account has been TAX
en- of the different degrees of refine
ment required, nor of the unmer-
geability of basicly conflicting ele-
ments.
Out Of it, and from no other source,
must come national strength or weak
ness-in the end our success or failure
as a Republic.
This problem is far more complicat-