Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-04-21
Coolidge Praises
Continued from Page One)

constant interposition of the govern
ment into practically all the affairs
of the people, and that is for the
people to adopt a correct course of
ton. to provide the proper STAN
cards of conduct by their own mo-
ton. If they do not want govern
ment through public action. they
must provide it through private ac-
ton. That is the true ideal of self
government. The attainment of that
ideal lies some distance in the flu
ture. but it is an ideal toward which
we should constantly strive.
IF the people wish to be in the
full enjoyment of their liberties. If
they wish to be unhampered by gov
eminent restrictions they can secure
that privilege. But they cannot Sc
cure it by abolishing government.
They can only secure 1t by adopting
n thorough system of individual self
government. Government is an abSo-
lutte necessity to human progress and
human happiness. If we do not wish
to have 1t imposed from without. we
must ourselves impose it from with
in"
The AmericaniZation work of the
Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton among emgrantS was praised by
Mr. Coolidge. who declared that the
United States policy of restriction
seemed necessary lin view of the GER
tainty that unprecedented numbers
would flow to us from Europe; more
than we could be sure of assimilat-
ing; more than European countries
could well spare"
Had there been no limitations" he
added, the number of newcomers
among us in the last four years would
probably have been several millions
greater. If we had been called upon
to receive and place such a number.
it may we'll be doubted whether they
would have found their condition here
much better than it was in Europe.
Certainly our problem of helping adj
just them to the new conditions and
the hard competition of such a situa-
ton would have been far more diff
cult.
1T is manifestly impossible to know
how many immigrants would have
come in the last four years if no re-
strictions had been imposed. But
competent official authorities have es-
tlmated that 100000 would have
come in each of these four years. or
over three times as many as did act
ually come. We may we'll doubt
whether that would have been to the
advantage of either them or the coun-
try.
The welfare of all the people will
be promoted by truly national life.
In these last few years we have all
realized as never before the need to
bring about the spiritual unification of
this great people. A hundred and ten
million people, living together, may
or may not constitute in the full sense
a nation of a hundred and ten million.
The war brought appreciation of this
truth. We achieved our independence
century and half ago. We con-
firmed our political union co years ago.
We have all the time been struggling
toward spiritual and moral unity.
ITO gain and perfect it. we need
just such interests and activities as
these to which the Daughters of the
American Revolution are so sincerely
devoted. We need not only to draw
the newcomers into our social struc-
lures, but we need to make them con-
tribute to its strength and beauty.
We may gain much from them. In
the diversification of our culture, the
broadening of our interests, the devel
opment of our literature, and arts. the
formation of rounded, symmetrical
national character, they cah help us
vastly. We shall best serve both them
and ourselves if we shall fully recog-
nize this mutually of interest"