Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-23
llXT OF Co0L|DGE'S ADDRESS

/, and It IL met by very practical
s.,ice. 1t is individual In its nature.
Ma personal service for each one
d Isg making its appeal entirely to
4, Intelligence Of the Individual and
ue aizing fully the American ideal
|1tellectual Independence.
Stbis conception is not exactly AZ
vrtance with, but certainly supple
,mntary to, the long cherished
american ideal Of the Independence
Z inc individual and the indepen-
s,nce Of the Nation. Granted that
M largest possible independence is
- desirable goal, the consideration a.
nee arises as to how such independ-
a ,.e can best be secured. The WORK
at. the Associated Press, both neces-
sary and logical. indicates that fhe
'fue method would appear to lie in
- gnizing the broad principle of
IL individual and national depend
II ,, calculating the requirements
" oh flow from that condition. and
90 erning ourselves accordingly.
C.HipIete independence means com
Gl % coordination and cooperation
Fl N this principle arises the Oft
Repeated law of service-we can helm
ourselves only as we help others. A
knowledge and an understanding Of
others become absolutely necessary.
In order to make our ideals practical.
one Of the preeminent requirements
Of our country at the present time is
10 reestablish and emphasize in the
public mind this law Of service. The
Danger to America is not in the d.
tsction OF the failure to maintain its
economic position. but in the direc-
stion of the failure to maintain Its
ids ais.
rhe principle OF service is not to
confounded with q weak and i'm
practical sentimentalism. 1t does not
mean that either the individual or the
Nation IL to assume the burdens
I which ought to be borne by others.
II Is warranted in considering self to
the extent Of recognizing that II is
justiflable to accumulate and hold
the resources which must necessar-
lily BIO used to serve ourselves, our
own household, and our own Nation.
But 1T does not stop there. It recog-
Mics also the necessity of serving
others. and when the need arises for
meeting moral requirement, of
making individual and national sac
rifices sufficient to maintain the
cause of Righteousness.
How Certain Conditions Developed
Washington have revealed the dan
gers to which refer in very
dramatic way. Beginning nearly 10
years ago our country entered q
period when conditions were alto
Rether artificial and abnormal, Gull
minating In the strained and lurid
events of our participation in the
war. The old standards Of action
were either suspended or entirely
cast aside. Altogether too many of
those in a position to do so began
to take advantage of the necessities
Of the situation for their own profit.
Finally nearly all Of those in respon-
sible positions throughout the entire
civilized world had but one main OBJ
joct in view, which was the winning
Of the war. They began to make al
most every consideration and motive
subsidiary to that great effort. To-
tally uncomfortable amounts of money
, were raised and expended with q
lavishncss which q few months be-
fore would have been believed i'm
possible, and which now seems like
some wild nightmare. NOtwithstand-
ing the great wave of patriotic fer
yor which swept over the land; not
, outstanding the tremendous Sacri-
fees which the people in every walk
, make; almost unconsciously these
conditions developed, which I men
ton not for any purpose now to
criticize. where the least scrupulous
became the .grea test gamers. and q
considerable part OF our population
was thrown into a morbid financial
state of mind. which even the best
mentioned did not wholly escape.
The desire for profits and more pro-
fits kept on increasing. and the quest
Tor easy money became well-nigh
universal. All Of this meant an at
tempt TO appropriate the belongings
ponding service.
This condition began to subside
nearly four years ago. but 1t left
along it's course q trail of vicious
and criminal selfishness which in
diminishing degree has over since
been attempting to crafty an APP
petite grown all the sharper through
Indulgence, and a general credulity
to rumors OF large sums Of money
demanded and paid on account OF
every conceivable motive and action.
From all of this sordidness the af-
fairs Of government. of course.
suffered. In some of 1t q few public
officers were guilty participants. But
the wonder is not that this was SO
much or so many, rather that 1t has
been so little and SO few. The en-
Couraging thing at present Is the
evidence of a well-nigh complete
return TO normal methods of action.
and n sane public opinion. The
gravity of guilt of this kind Is fully
realized and publicly reprehended.
There is an exceedingly healthy dis
POSITION to uproot it altogether, and
administer punishment wherever
competent evidence of guilt can be
produced. That am doing and pro-
Iose to continue.
Another Phase of Extravaganes
Another phase OF lingering ex-
travagance. from which the country
has not yet fully recovered, Is re-
Nealed by a consideration of the bills
which are pending before the Con-
gress. calling for an expenditure of
public money. Exceedingly great
Efforts have been put forth to re-
duce the cost of government. Hun
dreds OF thousands Of public en-
every department has been thor
most competent financial super
vision. The country rs n whole is
demanding with great vigor every
possible relief from the burden of
every unnecessary public ex-
penditure. Yet Notwithstanding
this. minority groups of one kind or
another. and Organizations, some-
times almost nationwide in their
famifications. are making the most