Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-06-01

nor the system under which we claim
them are safe while such conditions
exist.
We shall not correct admitted and
grave defects if we hesitate to rec
ognize them. We must be frank with
ourselves. We ought to be our own
harshest critics. We can afford to
be, for in spite of everything we still
have balance Of prosperity, of gen.
eral welfare. of secure freedom, and
of righteous purpose, that gives us
assurance Of leadership among the
nations.
What America needs is to hold to
it's ancient and well-charted course.
Our country was conceived in the
theory of local self government. 1t
has been dedicated by long practice
to that wise and benefcent policy.
1t is the foundation principle of our
system of liberty. 1t makes the larg-
est promise to the freedom and de-
velopment of the individual. It's pre-
servation is worth all the effort and
all the sacrifice that it may cost.
1t can not be denied that the pres
ent tendency is not in harmony with
this spirit. The individual, instead
of working out his own salvation and
securing his own freedom by estab-
fishing his own economic and moral
independence by his own industry
and his own self f-mastery, tends to
throw himself on some vague inf1u-
ence which he denominates society
and to hold that in some way re-
sponsible for the sufficiency of his
support and the morality of his ac-
tions. The local political units like
wise look to the States, the States
look to the Nation, and nations
are beginning to look to some
vague organization. some. nebulous
concourse of humanity, to pay their
bills and tell them what to do. This
is not local self-government. 1t is
| not American. 1t is not the method
which has made this country what
it is. We can not maintain the west
ern standard of civilization on that
theory. If it is supported at all, 1t
Will have to be supported on the
principle of individual responsibility.
If that principle be maintained, the
result which believe America wish
es to see produced inevitably will
follow.
Have to Make Decision
There is no other foundation on
which freedom has ever found a
permanent abiding place. We shall
have to make our decision whether
we wish to maintain our present in
stitutions, or whether we wish to ex-
| change them for something else. If
we permit some one to come to sup
port us, We can not prevent some
one coming to govern us. If we are
too weak to take charge of our own
morality, we shall not be strong
enough to take charge of our own
liberty. If we can not govern our
selves, If we can not observe the law,
! nothing remains but to have some
| one else govern us. to have the law
enforced against us, and to step
| down from the honorable abiding
place of freedom to the ignominious
abode Of servitude.
If these principles are sound, two
conclusions follow. The individual
and the local, state. and national po-
litical units ought to be permitted to
assume their own responsibilities.
Any other course in the end will be
subversive both of character and lib
| erty. But it is equally clear that
they in their turn must meet their
| obligations. If there is to be con-
tlnuation of individual and local self
government and of State sovereignty.
| the individual and locality must gov
ern themselves and the State must
| oooSAI Alo SoNciSlSHty. OlnerW1So
these rights and privileges will be
| confiscated under the all-compelling
| pressure of public necessity for
| better maintenance of order and
morality. The whole world has
| reached a stage in which, if we do
not set ourselves right, we may be
perfectly sure that an authority will
be asserted by others for the purpose
| of setting us right.
! But before we attempt to set our
selves up as exponents of universal
reform. it would be wise to remem-
Der that progress is of slow growth,
and also to remember that modera :
| ton, patience, fOrbearance, and char
1ty are virtues in their own right.
The only action which can be effec-
| tive in the long run is that which
helps others to help themselves. Be-
fore we assume too great RESPONSE
ollltles in the governing of others. it
would be the part of wisdom very
| completely to discharge our RESPONSE
| bilities for governing ourselves. A
| large amount of work has to be done
at home before we can start in on
the neighbors, and very considera BILE
~