The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1924-02-08
THE APPEAL TO YOUTH
BY Cora Frances Stoddard

We have already heard more than
once from this platform the appeal to
enlist youth with all its potential pow
ers in our great task.
But let me ask you in all serious
ness, are we making the compelling
appeal to youth? Are we giving that
spiritual vision of the ends we seek
that will call forth youths natural re-
spouse to the demand for the heroic
| find myself wondering sometimes
whether in this great task which
presses so hard upon us day by day
ii we arc not h some danger OF mis-
taking means for ends. or at least of
becoming so absorbed in the necessary
means that we fail to keep shining
clear and bright the vision OF the end
we seek. Just so far as we let our
own vision grow dim shall we fail to
give youth the compelling vision that
Nolid VIII IL " Olll NduSS.
The most significant and far-reach-
ing statement about prohibition in the
Presidents recent message to Con-
gross, to my mind, was not in the sec
ton specifically dealing with law en-
forcement, important as that was. 1t
was in these words in another section,
deliberately spoken:
There is an unacceptable RESPONSE
bility for the development of charac-
ter, of industry, of thrift and of self
control. These do not come from the
government but from the people them
selves.
But the government can and should
always be expressive Of steadfast de-
termination, always vigilant, to main
tain conditions under which these vr-
tues are most likely to develop and
secure recognition and reward. This
is the American policy.
at is in accordance with this prin-
ciple that we have enacted laws for
the public health and have adopted
prohibition in narcotic drugs and in
toxicating liquors"
For the first time to the best OF my
knowledge, president OF the United
States in an official message to Con-
gress has thus definitely asserted the
principle OF prohibition to be Ameri-
can policy, and why? Because it is in
accord with the Constitution OF the
United States, the preamble of which
states that the Constitution is estab-
lished ito promote the public wei
fare" Because it is designed to CON
tribute TO conditions under which
character, industry, thrst. and self
control may be developed and can
reap their reward.
The President has given us both the
law and gospel. The law: We will
enforce the law; the good citizen will
obey the law; and will openly oppose
the violation of law.
But he has also given us the gospel
of prohibition. Here is the vision: A
race free from exploitation by the
drink trade or the pressure OF old
drinking customs to develop, if it will,
character, industry, thrift and self
control; to reap, if it willuthe rewards
OF these efforts. t.3 n
Where, then, are we going? For
what are we appealing to the high
ideals OF American youth? To perfect
National Prohibition? To win World
Prohibition? No, those are not our
goals. They are but the means to a
greater end described long ago by
John Arlington Symonds:
These things shall be; loftier race
Than ere the world hath seen shall rise
With fame of freedom in their. souls
And light of knowledge in their eyes.
They shall be gentle, brave and strong
Already millions OF youth arc seeing
this vision. In middle Europe today
the great youth movement is sweep
ing millions. Some groups are against
some are for physical per-
lection, some are for throwing off arti-
fetal forms and returning to simpler
manners. There are features that un-
guided are not without their dangers.
But when last summer | asked one
who knew the movement intimately
why she was so confident that the
anti-alcohol movement would progress
rapidly. she replied, Because, when
the representatives OF the three and a
half million youth Of the Youth Move
ment last met, it was discovered that
there was one point on which they all
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