Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-04-09

of law or through the force of public
opinion, or even in defiance of law,
have no justification in reason and
are disastrous in their consequences.
They dwarf and destroy those who
permit themselves to come under the
domination of these motives. Tolera-
tion is not passive quality. 1t does
not mean simply receiving the bene-
fits of the tolerance of others. 1t is
distinctly an active quality which
means bestowing upon others and
thereby receiving ourselves the bene-
fits of our own tolerance.
No one can criticize journalistic eff
forts directed to the promotion of par
ticular interests, but all that can be
done without raising bitter antago-
nisms against other interests. 1t is
impossible to think of political parties
in these days without the support of
a sympathetic press. 1t seems to me
that in this field especially the chief
requirement will always be for con-
structive effort. Rank partisanship
very quickly falls into a distortion or
a complete misstatement of the facts,
accompanied by arguments which lead
to illogical and unsound conclusions.
A very cursory perusal of our history
would convince anyone that in the past
there has been sufficient good in both
our political parties, especially when
they have been in power, to require
a large amount of printers ink in it's
portrayal 1t is improbable that
very similar condition does not exist
at the present time. 1t would be much
more helpful to suggest what ought
to be done than merely to find fault
with what is being done./ 1t is very
difficult to reconcile narrow and
bitter partisanship with real patriot
ism.
OF Great Importance.
In the field of our foreign relations
the attitude of the press becomes of
very great Importance. The number
of our people who learn of foreign
countries by actual contact with them
is comparatively very small. Even
then, such knowledge probably relates
to only one or two countries. What
the people of our country as a whole
know of contemporary actions of other
countries is gained entirely from the
public prints. OF course, the press is
III pldClHS I1lC NS1y llt5 hOoS
estimation upon America. No one
should complain because our journal
lists represent our country as having
the best of institutions. They are the
best for us. But this does not require
that other countries and other instiu-
joins should be disparaged.
One of the very gravest responsible
tiles of the government is the creation
and preservation of friendly relations
with all foreign countries. One rea-
son for this is our foreign trade. 1t
is true that we have the natural re-
sources to make ourselves very nearly
self-sustaining, but nevertheless our
commerce with other nations in what
we buy and sell is very large and very
important both in the promotion of
our material prosperity and as an
enormous enlightening and civilizing
influence Undoubtedly trade will g1
to a large extent where it can secure
the greatest advantage, but it is in
fluenced in no small degree by good
will.
International friendship and good
will are of very large money value.
They can not be promoted by misrep-
resentation and caricature of foreign
people, The cultivation also of such
an attitude of mind on the part Of our
people is an exhibition of hostility.
1t is sowing the seeds of war. We
ought to realize that other nations
have their rights and are justified in
promoting their interests by all fair
means We can not cultivate the arts
cf peace by entertaining emotions of
suspicion, distrust, and hatred. We
can not be a great people by yielding
to such unworthy sentiments. We ought
to rise above that and be ready to at
tribute the same good faith and fair
motives to other governments and
other peoples which we claim for our
selves. No basis for harmony, tran
guilty, honorable dealing, and peace
has ever been better expressed than
that which is contained in the golden
rule.
Need Friendly Attitude.
without a friendly attitude of mind
on the part of our people, which can
be very largely advanced by the ac-
tion of the press, all effort on the part
of the government to maintain har-
monious international relations will
be of little avail. OF course the most
worthy intentions, the best of senti-
ments, the highest ideals are not them
selves sufficient. They must be ac-
companied by proper instruments and
institutions. 1t is useless to love lib
erty unless we establish laws. 1t Is
futile to cherish justice unless we pro-
vide courts. Our country has lately
recognized this important principle by
signifying it's determinations to pro-
mote international justice by adhering
to the World Court. This has been
done under reservations which ade-
ouately safeguard American rights and
also tend to strengthen the indepen-
dence of the court. Our government
has taken this step because it bel1ev-
ed that it was the most practical
method by which it could exercise its
great influence in establishing the
principle of a reign of international
law under which disputes and differ
ences would be adjusted, not by force
but by reason. We ought to be ready
to assume that in undertaking to dis
charge this same obligation other
countries have been animated by the
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