Evening star., 1924-06-12
he law of obedience. the law oi

Some maintain that nateriafism is
our national course. He insists upon
the possibility of whole some rela-
ilonship between these two great
FACTORS He recognizes sthat there is
much current discomfort, but he be-
ileves IT to be due largely to uH-
worthy confidence in the things we
touch and see and handle. He coun-
,' seis mat we examine anew our atti-
tude OF mind toward possessions In
tact, ne 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
or consideration human ideals But
lhis Goes not mean to him that there
- anything inevitably incompa tible
between the highest standards Of
spiritual living and genuine business
success. In short the former make
possible the latter. 1t would be a
startling thing to the world to know
that America actually stands just
there IL may be well 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
hrst and most important is that of
righteousness. There ~ that in man
Kind; stronger than all else. which
requirement ia 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 1t all up in
an address he delivered "A year ago at
college commencement He said,
we do not need more national de-
development. We do not need more
IN tellectual power. We neSd 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-
clSeiy what this man is saying sc
clearly and forcefully. 1t has ring
to II which will permeate the world
He has been successful in politics be-
cause he has been simply and an
anSwerably honest. The hardest
thing in the world to defeat is sheer
character Some American politicians
still have a great lesson to learn.
The first mark OF 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.
A Forward Conservative.
1T is not too much to affirm that
the people OF the United States have
intense longings which they do no,
entirely understand and which by the
very terms OF the problem they can
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
where, any time The American
people believe that. 1t required back
bone to say it, They told him it
would no doubt end his public life.
He simply said Very likely and pro-
ceeded to do his duty he under
stood it. Such is the man. He breeds
confidence. There is here the solid
basis on which you can build a public
career of the highest quality. Amer
lea needs this man in this hour and
the world needs America
"iI-The American.
With this partial understanding
of the individual we are prepared to
learn that this man in the most
American. He has been thinking
America, believing America and liv-
ing America.
THE place he gives to intelligence
ursted 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
of the spectacular aspects Of his
Americanism. 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 bett er
or more understanding friend than
this man.
I'm America We have the curious
practice of classifying men. We at
tempt to put labels on them and
ina gine that thereby We have set
tied something. We have unusual
facility in this method because we
rarely pause to agree on any defni-
ton OF the term. As matter of
fact. il is not the meaning of the
term that gives us concern. It is
the Implication it carries. its flavor
or its color. We say 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
facts.
He everences our past. He knows
that the past has produced for us
much truth and wisdom. Therefore
he believes In history and a thor
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 a guide for the future. He
recognizes clearly the evils Of dead
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
find in what direction, straight and
clear, 1T points in the future. His
is sane. forward looking conserva-
tfsm.
Recognizes Need for Change.
He does not concede that the pres
ent clamor Tor change proves that
our national principles are false or
mat our governmental organiza tion
is weak. changes must come. Every
sane person recognizes that
The real question concerns the causes
OF our dlscontent and the sources OF
our evil. Immediately to destroy ex-
isting institutions because human
frailtfes 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
genuine grounds for optimism. 1t is
easy to complain and to overlook the
great blessings Of life. After all IA