Evening star., 1924-06-12

problem of material prosperity and
it's affects upon tho quality OF our
national life. To him there is not
the slightest need Of regarding ma
hicting elements in civilization.
Some maintain that materialism is
our national course. He insists upon
the possibility of a wholesome rela-
tionship between these two great
factors He recognizes that there is
much current discomfort, but he be-
lieves IL to be due largely to un-
worthy confidence in the things we
touch and see and handle. He coun-
sells that we examine anew our atti-
tude of mind toward possessions In
fact, he firmly believes that real
prosperity and even progress demand
spiritual values, Nor will real pros
perity arise he says. by relying
upon a materialism which leaves out
of consideration human ideals But
this does not mean to him that there
is anything inevitably Incompatible
between the highest standards of
success. In short the former makes
possible the latter. 1t would be a
startling thing to the world to know
that America actually stands just
there. 1t may be we'll to read these
challenging words of his with special
attention to the order and emphasis:
There are two fundamental motives
which inspire human action. The
first and most important is that of
Righteousness There Is that in man
kind, stronger than all else, which
requires them to do right. When that
requirement is satisfied the next mo-
tive is that of gain This is a new
point OF view for many American
critics. Its soundness needs no de-
fenSe.
Here, then, is the man. He fol-
lows right and truth to their logical
conclusions. He gathered II all up in
an address he delivered year ago at
college commencement. He said
we do not need more national de-
velopment, we need more spiritual
development. We do not need more
intellectual power. we need more
moral power. We do not need more
knowledge, we need more character.
We do not need more government, we
need more culture. We do not need
more law, we need more religion. We
do not need more of the things that
are seen, we need more Of the things
that are unseen.
ciSely what this man is saying so
clearly and forcefully. 1t has a ring
to il which will permeate the world
He has been successful in politics be-
sasSe he h,r has rdnsIt been simPly and un,
thing in the world to defeat is sheer
character. Some American politicians
still have great lesson to learn
The first mark of a public servant is
not solely the desire to know what
the people want, but the purpose to
help the people to want what they
ought to have.
Forward-LookinE Conservative.
1T is not too much TO affirm that
the people or the United States have
intense longings which they do not
entirely understand and which by the
OF
not focus and express. l believe this
man does comprehend these intense
yearlings of the people and that
quietly and persistently he is put
ting them forth in sharp. incisive
utterances. The Boston police strike
need not be rehearsed here. Its de-
tails are well known. But America
viii not soon forget this emphatic
assertion of conviction which is
destined to live in American history:
There is no right to strike against
the public safety by anybody, any
where, any time The American
people believe that. 1t required back
bone to say it. They told him it
He simply said Very likely and pro
ceeded to do his duty as he under
stood il. Such is the man. He breeds
confidence. There is here the solid
basis on which you can build public
career of the highest quality Amer
lea needs this man in this hour and
the world needs America.
1.-THE American.
With this partial understanding
of the individual we are prepared to
learn that this man in the most
thrilling sense of the term is an
American, He has been thinking
America. believing America and Iiv-
The place he gives to intelligence
is genuinely American. He is sat
urated with confidence in the value
of the mind. He constantly empha-
sizes the necessity of schools and
nation. Problems Of the most serious
import require solution. Clear
straight, hard thinking alone will do
II. This man sees this great truth
to emphasize il. 1t may not be one
of the spectacular aspects of his
Amercanism, but it is one which the
future will not forget. Americans
believe in their children and in edu-
cation. They demand primary schools.
high schools, colleges and universi-
ties. These agencies have no better
or more understanding friend than
this man.
Tn America we have the curious
practice of classifying men. We at
tempt to put labels on them and
imagine that thereby we have set
tied something. We have unusual
facility in this method because we
rarely pause to agree on any defini-
tion of the term. AS matter of
fact. it is not the meaning of the
term that gives us concern. 1t is
the implication it carries, its flavor
or its color. We say a man is a
conservative. a liberal or a radical
and for US the term carries praise or
opprobrium, depending entirely upon
our own point of view. Now this
mans AmericaniSm comes to lofty
expression in what some have praised
and others have criticized as his con-
servatism-' Let us examine the actual
facts.
HE revereaces our past. He knows
tuat Inc past has produced for us
much truth and wisdom. Therefore
ough knowledge OF that past.
He uses the past for the future.
He is no mere worshiper of the
past as the past. 1t has meaning
chiefly as guide for the future. He
CONCEALED conservatism. His en-,
phasls Is on the days to come. He
is concerned chiefly about our ten
oencies. Therefore, he says. we re-
y,ew tne past. not in order that we
may return to it. but that we may
ma IN what direction, straight and
clear. 1t points in the future His
is a sane, forward-looking conserva-
tism.
RecoEAfsas Need for Change.
He does not concede that the pres
ent clanor for change proves that
our national principles are false or
that our governmental organization
Is weak. Changes must come Every
sane person recognizes that
Ine real question concerns the causes
or our discomfort and the sources of
our evil. Immediately to destroy ex-
listing institutions because human
frailties continue to exist and human
nature is not speedily reformed is
scarcely to be called wise leadership.
freedom Is hard.
In fact, he holds that there are
genuine grounds for optimism It Is