Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-03-07
Never DoWnhearted.

The American people have passed
through many crises in their relatively
short history. They have been engaged
in a series Of wars, averaging one to a
generation. They have suffered cpl
denies, that have taken lives by whole
sale. They have been visited by cata-
cylsms of nature, like the San Francisco
earthquake and the Mississippi floods.
They have had their full share of acct
dental disasters, like the burning of the
Slocum, the sinking Of the Eastland, the
1roquois Theater fire in Chicago and the
collapse Of the Knickerbocker Theater
IN Washington. And they have had a
long succession Of depressions and pam
les. But it is abundantly apparent
that none of these Affections, none of
these losses, has had any permanent
effect upon the optimistic spirit of the
multitudes of men and women who con-
stitute the human character Of the
Nation.
Today, as on great many earlier &C.
casions, there is trouble in the land,
economic difficulty, social distress. But
are the masses downhearted? So need
less is the question in the face of the
happy optimism discernible on every
hand that no one seems to have
bothered to ask it. Only the philoso-
pher, looking down upon humanity
from the vantage point of an isolated
retreat, has the curiosity to inquire. To
him it may seem curious that no one
appears to be Unfortunately disturbed.
To the people themselves the subject is
lacking in interest. They know that
changes are taking place, they realize
that something important is happen
ing" but they refuse to get excited
about it. That, psychologists say, is q
helpful attitude. It indicates social
health.
Perhaps there is such a thing as a
constructive fatalism. If so, 1t has a
happy manifestation now and again.
The American people have no particular
penchant for disruption and disorder,
but when they have done their best
to push on in the old way and their
efforts have not been entirely success
full, they will not indulge in extrava-
CANT grief and recrimination II they
are obliged to begin all over again,
forced to try new path, new meth
cd. 1t is pretty generally recognized
now that the boom period of 1924
1929 was a pleasant blind alley termi-
mating in a blank wall which forbade
further progress. The crowd had to
turn back. Necessarily, there was Ger
tain tragedy in the fact. But was 1t
imperative to weep about it, to grow
hysterical about it? OF course not.
The sanity Of the people saved most
of them from any such foolishness. So
today. 1t would be easy. probably to
wax frantic. But few indeed are they
who are discouraged. Instead, the clos
ing of the banks and the embargo on
gold are themes for laughter. Vaude-
vile comedians and editorial commenta-
tors make joke of the slump, and their
audiences join in the fun. A hundred
and twenty-five millions of rational hu-
man beings refuse to believe that any
thing very terrible can happen just
because of a moratorium on yellow
metal They know better. They have
stronger faith In their own destiny
their own capacity, their own spiritual
residence.
A sense of humor is part of the capital
of the people Closely allied with it is
a helpful sense of confidence. Condi-
tons may be deplorably abnormal, the
times may be out of joint. But even
if the worst be true, even if the old
financial system Is cracking up beyond
all repair, humanity Is going on, find
ing its way through the wilderness of
life, puzzled perhaps, but never down.
hearted.
There is an ancient adage to the
effect that it always is darkest just be-
fore the dawn. It is whispered that
the depression is coming to an end. that
the troubles of the banks signify the
conclusion Of the struggle, that the
sun of prosperity is about to return, and
that there is nothing to worry about.
Be that as it may, observers throughout
the country note the general optimism
of all classes and rejoice therein.