Evening star., 1924-06-12

problem of material prosperity and
Its effects upon the quality of our
national life. To him there is not
the slightest need of regarding ma
terial and spiritual resources as con-
hicting elements in civilization.
Some maintain that materialism is
our national course. He insists upon
the possibility of wholesome rela-
tionship between these two great
Factors. He recognizes that there is
much current discontent, but he be-
lieves IL to be due largely to un-
worthy confidence in the things We
touch and see and handle. He coun
seis that We examine anew our atti-
tude of mind toward possessions In
tact. he firmly believes that real
prosperity and even progress demand
spiritual values. Nor will real pros
perity arise he says, by relying
upon materialism which leaves out
OF consideration human ideals But
this does not mean to him that there
IS anything inevitably incompa tible
between the highest standards of
spiritual living and genuine business
success In short the former makes
possible the latter. 1t would be a
>tartlins thing To the world To know
mat America actually stands just
challenging words of his with special
attention TO the order and emphasis:
There are two undamental motives
which inspire human action. The
first and most important is that of
righteousness. There - 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 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 it all up in
an address he delivered a year ago at
college commencement. He said,
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.
What America must learn is pre-
ciSely what this man is saying so
clearly and forcefuily. IL has ring
tC II which will permeate the world.
He has been successful in politics be-
answerably honest. The hardest
thing in the world to defeat'is sheer
character. Some American politicians
still have great lesson to learn.
ne HTSt marx OF a pubic 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.
FOrwa ri Looking Conservative.
1T is not too much to affirm that
the people OF the United States have
intense longings which they do not
entirely understand and which by the
very terms OF the problem they can
not focus and express. / 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
tails are well known. But America
will not soon forget this emphatic
assertion of conviction which is
destined to live in American history
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 d public
career of the highest quality. Amer
the world needs America.
11-The American.
With this partial understanding
OF the individual we are prepared TO
thrilling sense of the term is an
American. He has been thinking
America. believing America and Iiv-
ing America.
is genuinely Anne rican. He is sat
urated with confidence in the value
of the mind. He constantly empha-
sizes the necessity of schools and
the Importance Of education TO our
nation. Problems of the most serious
import require solution. Clear
straight, hard thinking alone will do
it. This man sees this great truth
in all its bearings and never fails
to emphasize it. 1t may not be one
Americanism. but it is one which the
future will not forget. Americans
believe in their children and in edu-
cation. They demand primary schools.
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 or the term. AS matter of
term that gives us concern. Ii is
the implication it carries, it's flavor
or its color. We say man is a
conservative. liberal or a radical
opprobrium. depending entirely upon
our own point of view. Now this
mans ericanism comes to lofty
expression in what some have praised
and others have criticized as his con-
servatism-' Let us examine the actual
facts.
He reverences our past. He knows
that the past has produced for us
much truth and wisdom. Therefore
ne believes in history and a thor
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
recosnizes clearly the evils Of dead,
congealed conservatism. His en-
phasis is on the days to come. He
is concerned chiefly about our ten
denotes. Therefore. he says, we re-
view the past, not in order that we
may return to it. but that we may
find in what direction. straight and
clear. it points in the future His
is sane. forward-looking conserva-
tism.
Rcc0aniSes Need for Change.
He does not concede that the pres
ent clamor for change proves that
our national principles are false or
that our governmental oreaniza tion
IL weak. Changes must come. Every
sane person recognizes that
The real question concerns the causes
of our discontent 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.
To destroy is easy, but to achieve
freedom is hard.
In fact. he holds that there are