Evening star., 1924-06-12

ltS enects upon the quality of our
national life. To him there is not
the slightest need of regarding ma
terial and spiritual resources AS con-
Some maintain that materialism is
our national course. He insists upon
the possibility of wholesome rela-
tlonshlp between these two great
factors He recognizes that there is
much current discomfort, but he be-
lieves it to be due largely to un-
worthy confidence in the things we
touch and see and handle. He coun-
seis ihat we examine anew our attl-
tude of mind toward possessions In
tact, he firmly believes that real
prosperity and even progress demand
spiritual values. Nor will real pros
perltN arise, he says, by relying
upon 'materialism which leaves out
this does not mean to him that there
IS anything inevitably incompatible
between the highest standards of
spiritual living and genuine business
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 well to read these
challengins words of his with special
attention TO the order and emphasis :
There are two funda mental motives
which inspire human action. The
hrst 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.
"Hepe. then, is the man. He fol-
lows right and truth to their logical
conclusions. He gathered it all up in
an address he delivered year ago at
college commencement. He said,
We do not need more national de-
Ielopment, We need more spiritual
development. We do not need more
tellectual 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-
clsely 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-
cause he has been simply and un-
anSwerably honest. The hal es [
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
heip the people to want what they
ought TO have.
4 FOrwa ard Looking Conservative.
1T is not too much 10 affirm that
the people Of the United States have
intense longngs which they do not
entirely understand and which by the
very terms OF the problem they can
not focus and express I believe this
man does compf ehend 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
will not soon forget this emphatic
assertion of d conviction which is
destined to live in Anne rican history ::
There Is no right to strike against
5he nse1e public aov safG1y by Tbs snshody
bone to say it, They told him il
would no doubt end his public life.
He simply said Very likely and pro-
ceeded to do his duty as he under
confidence. There is here the solid
basis on which you can build a public
career Of the highest quality. Amer,
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
American. He has been thinking
America, believing America and liv-
ing America
The place he gives to intelligence
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 il. 1t may not be one
of the spectacular aspects of his
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
facility in this method because we
rarely pause TO agree on any ,defini-
ton of the term. As a matter of
fact II is not the meaning of the
the implication il carries, its flavor
or its color We say Il man is a
conservative. q liberal or a radical
and for us the term carries praise or
opprobrium, depending entirely upon
our own point of view. Now this
expression in what some have praised
and others have criticized as his CON
servatlsm. Let US examine the actual
facts.
"He'reverences our past. He knows
that the past has produced for us
much truth and wisdom. Therefore
he believes in history and thor
ough knowledge Of that past
He is no mere worshiper of the
past as the past. II has meaning
chiefly as guide for the future. He
recognizes clearly the evils of dead,
concealed conservatism. His em-
is concerned chiefly about eur ten
dencies. Therefore. he says, we re-
view the past. not in order that we
may return to il. but that we NAV
find in what direction. straight and
clear. it points in the future His
is a sane. forward-looking conserva-
tism.
RecogniHes Ned for Change.
He does not concede that the pres
ent clamor for change proves that
our national principles are false or
that our governmental organiza ton
rs weak. Changes must come. Every
sane person recognizes that !.
The real question concerns the causes
or our discontent and the sources of
our evil. Immediately to destroy ex-
lsting 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
genuine grounds for optimism. 1t ia