Evening star., 1924-10-23
Zedl and Talent for Public
Service Strong Coolidge Trait
Political Philosopher as Youth, Presi.
dent Studied Needs of Greatest Num-,
Der as He Sees Them.

Some can roar as lions. Some have
powerful and dangerous fists. Steam
roller superiorities these. Often they
succeed wholly unaided by either
brains or morals. Mr.. Coolidge has
not big body. He has no whiskers
at all. There is nothing leonine
about his vocal equipment. His fists
are neither powerful nor dangerous.
Yet, In State of strong men, rich
in political gifts and powers. he rose
above all his fellows, placed them all
behind him, and took and held the
center of the stage
Is this not proof of intellect and
character?
Zeal and talent for public service
are conspicuous in the whole of Cal
vim Coolidge's adult life. He was a po-
Htical philosopher as boy, and a
political philosopher deeply religious
and keenly ethical. Almost 30 years
ago, when senior at Amherst Col
lege, he won distinction in the aca-
demic world, and won $50 gold
medal by writing, in a contest open
to seniors of all American colleges
and universities. what was adjudged
the best essay on the causes of the
American Revolution.
Results of Religion and Learning.
Supremely throughout his life CAL
vim Colidge has believed in two
things-religion and education. In all
his thought and work he has de-
pended in the past and depends now
upon Divine guidance. He thinks
there is no promise, no security,
without it Our nation was founded
by men who came over for the sake
OF religion he has said. Religion IS
essential. Without the church the
community goes to pieces. i have seen
this again and again in New England
Our Nation cannot live without moral
ity, and morality cannot live without
religion"
Light on Mr.. Coolidge's spiritual ma
ture is found in his abiding love for
Amherst. Its whole inspiration and
practice delighted him and he places
it first among the influences that have
nodded his life. And what sort of an
institution is Amherst? In the lam
guage of its founder, 1t has and will
not deviate from, its Original OBJ
ject of civilizing and evang eIizing the
world by the classical education of
INDECENT young men of piety and tai
ent.' To teach men spiritual values is
the basic aim of Amherst. and" re-
marks Mr.. Coolidge. 'the progress of
this effort measures the progress of
civilization: there is no other prin-
ciple that men of the present day all
over the world need to keep so con-
Stantly in mind"
Defender of Individualism,
Individualism is at the base of all
Mr.. Coolidge's political social, eco
nomic and cultural thinking. I'VE
have no dependence" says he, but
the Individual. New charters cannot
save US. They may appear to help,
but the chances are that the beneficial
results obtained are due to interest
aroused by discussing changes. Laws
do not make reforms; reforms make
laws. We cannot look to government.
We must look to ourselves We must
stand, not in the expectation of a re-
"ard, but with desire to serve Pol
ltlcS is the process of action in public
aHa1rs. 1t is personal, 1t is individual
and nothing more. Destiny is in YOU"
Government, to be sure, in Mr.. Cool
dse's outlook, has wide field of vital
service. 1t must care for the educa-
tion OF the people, for their health,
for their housing and working condi-
tons, for the mentally and physically
defective, for the weak in their strug-
gle with the strong. All legislation.
he remarks, should recognize the
right of man to be well born, well
nurtured, well educated, well en-
ployed, and we'll paid" But govern
ment, as this observer sees it, should
interfere with individual liberty
should subtract from the privileges
Of the individual-only to the extent
Of preventing impingement upon the
rights of other individuals. Its func-
ton is that of safeguarding and pro-
noting the social W al h;
tanning conditions of justice and
freedom for the individual citizen.
strong or weak, rich or Door
Significant of Mr.. Coolidge's feeling
about American politics and American
national interests is his admiration of
theodore Roosevelt. What Roosevelt
owed Coolidge loves. Hear him.
His fRoosevelt's) work goes on.
His battle line strengthens. His
have more defenders, his
actions more admirers. His fol-
birthplace to increase the influence
If his life. The people whom he
owed and trusted and served are the
Here men may come
md remember that he re-esta ablished
representative government of all
he people, reopened the closing doors
'f opportunity, reawakened the soul
u his country and REINFORCED the
moral fiber of America"
His Defense of LAW and Order.
Close student of government, both
n theory and in practice, from early
went almost Immediate
y from law to politics-Calvin Cool
dge has had a lifelong and uncom-
monty vivid appreciation of the i'm
oortance of law and order, without
which there is no government and no
civilization. 1t was this sense-this
appreciation-which decided his posi-
ION and gave him national renown in
connection with the Boston police
strike. 1t has been suggested that
lie was less strong in that crisis. or
1t a certain stage of that crisis. than
lie ought to have been, but those most
amlliar with the facts believe his
conduct left nothing to be desired and
ne National Institute of Social