Milford chronicle., 1935-07-05
OUR AMERICAN HEROES
By ]. E. Jones


In the Greek epic or heroic age
only great warriors were worship
ped as heroes.
After 1000 years the psychology
cal processes that create American
heroes to be honored after death re-
veal Washington, Lincoln and Will
son occupying spot places IN the
history If the Republic.
Right now, President Franklin
Delano Roosevelt is broadly pro-
claimed as a hero. There has been
hut one peace-time President who
has even approached the heroic;
Thomas Jefferson. Ancient Greece
and modern United States worship
warriors. Washington, Lincoln, VIII
son would each have been "one OF
the Presidents" except for their
wars.
In 1776 George Washington per-
sonified the protest against the way
this New World was being run, ana
he rose to commanding power ana
achieved lasting TenOwn as the IA
ther of His Country. John Adams
was simply the second President. II
Jefferson is a hero, it is because ne
was the first New Dealer, and pro- /
sressive. As champion of the COM
mon people" he protested against
the rule Of the Federalists, ana
changed the political affairs of the
new Republic.
Lincoln shares part of his hOnOrs
with General Lee. They were alike
in one respect; they didn't like the
way the United States was being
run
Theodore Roosevelt was more OF
a disturber than hero. He storm
ed and rallied against the policies OF
capitalism, politics, mOnOpolies and
other things, most of which have
gradually slipped from memory.
Woodrow Wilson grows with the
passing years and is already classed
among the heroes, not for his bril- '
lance in peace, but because he was
the head of his Government in the !
Great War. Harding, Coolidge and
hoover did not qualify as heroes, as -
they had few changes to suggest in :
the way the nation was being run.
What break this gave the next
man to ascend to power.
President Roosevelt is tOday's
great PrOtester. He is the idol of
those who want 'one government in
stead of forty-eight;" of those
whose longitude is to the left or to
he right in protesting against pres
snt-day methods; of those whose al
.itude is for sweet dreams to share {
he-wealth; of those who stick to the
avs of gravitation and the grass :
DOT benefits of the AAA. Big busi-
less that crowded the little fellows
while they had codes, as well as or
,anized labor. have tender places in F
heir hearts for Roosevelt.
But there have been President be-
ore now who have fought depTes-
ions and panics, and advanced new
chemes and protested most loudly. I
Who were they? Arthur Brisbane 7
ays that the events of our times
5ill not he remembered fifty years L
rom now. Likely nOt-and our
ragedies may be classed as Incl n
ents" in the history Of the nation 1
lng before that.
1t is doubtful whether we VIII
ave many heroes in future years.
ur new civilization provides for
Ollective-thinking and action. Brain
rusts are actually to be respected
they are laboratories for intelli-
ent results. The press, radio and 8
amera have already destroyed the c
lusion that anybody has a master 4
lind" s
Fame is the successor Of heroism. =
ut alas, fame that was called "im- i'
ortal' by the ancients, is regarded
) something Of a lobster" by mod
rnists. =
Heroes are in the discard; Santa q
laus survives at the top Of the c
ack.