Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1937-01-28

require, without yielding its democ
racy. Our tasks in the last foul
years did not force democracy tt
take holiday.
Nearly all of us recognize that as
intricacies of human relationships
increase, SO power to govern them
also must increase-power to stoI
evil; power to do good. The essen
tial democracy of our nation and the
safety of our people depend not up
on the absence of power but upon
lodging it with those whom the peo-
pie can change or continue at Stated
intervals through an honest and
free system of elections. The con-
etitution of 1887 did not make our
democracy impotent.
In fact, in these last four years,
we have made the exercise of all
power more democratic. for we have
begun to bring private autocratic
powers into their proper subordina-
ton to the public's government. The
legend that they were invincible-
above and beyond the processes of
a democracy-has been shattered.
They have been challenged and beat
en-
Our progress out of the depres-
sion is obvious. But that is not all
that you and / mean by the new or
der of things. Our pledge was not
merely to do patchwork job with
secondhand materials. BY using the
new materials of social justice we
have undertaken to erect on the old
foundations \ more enduring struc-
ture for the better use of future
generations.
In that purpose we have been
helped by achievements of mind and
spirit. Old truths have been re-
learned; untruths have been un-
learned. We have always known
that needless self-interest was bad
morals; we know now that it is bad
economics. Out Of the collapse of
a prosperity whose builders boasted
their practicality has come the con-
viction that in the long run economic
morality pays. We are beginning to
wipe out the line that divides the
practical from the ideal; and in so
doing we are fashioning an instru-
ment of unimagined power for the
establishment of a morally better
world
This new understanding under
mines the old admiration of worldly
success as such. We are beginning
to abandon our tolerance Of the
abuse of power by those who betray
for profit the elementary decencies
of life.
In this process evil things for
merly accepted will not be SO easily
condoned. Observation-Disclosures will not
so easily excuse hard-heartedness
We are moving toward an era of
good feeling. But we realize that
there can be no era of good feeling
save among men of good will
For these reasons l am justified
in believing that the greatest
change we have witnessed has been
the change in the moral climate of
America.
Among men of goodwill science
and democracy together offer an
ever-richer life and ever-larger sat
isfaction to the individual With
this change in our moral climate
and our rediscovered ability to i'm
prove our economic order, we have
set our feet upon the road OF endur-
ing progress.
Shall we pause now and turn our
back upon the road that lies ahead?
Shall we call this the promised
land? Or, shall we continue on our
way? For leach age is a dream
that is dying. or one that is coming
to birth"
Many voices are heard as we face
a great decision. Comfort says,
''Tarry while" Opportunism says,
''This is a good spot'' Timidity
asks, How difficult is the road
ahead?"
/
days of stagnation and despair.
has been preserved. Cour-
age and confidence have been re-
stored Mental and moral horizons
have been extended.
But our present gains were won
under the pressure of more than Or
dinary circumstances. Advance be-
came imperative under the goad of
fear and suffering. The times were
On the side of progress.
To hold to progress today, how
ever, is more difficult. Dulled con-
science, irresponsibility and ruth I
less self-interest already reappear.
Such symptoms of prosperity may
become portents of disaster! Pros |
perity already tests the persistence
Of our progressive purpose.
Let us ask again: Have we reach
ed the goal Of our vision of that
fourth day of March, 1893? Have
we found our happy valley?
see a great nation, upon great
continent, blessed with great |
wealth of natural resources. It's
hundred and thirty million people |
are at peace among themselves;
they are making their country a.
good neighbor among the nations. !
see a United States which can dem
onstrate that, under democratic
methods of government, national
wealth can be translated into a
volume of human COM /
forts hitherto unknown, and the
LnMaSt standard of living can he