Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-05-29
General Maxims Create
False Sense Of Security.
To the Editor Of The Star:


To the Editor Of The Star
If canned wisdom were at all like
those tempting tins that bring first aid
to the harassed housewife, what brain
saver 1t would be! Unfortunately, the
figure is misleading. One cannot "just
add hot water and serve" a quick solu-
ton of our political and economic prob
lens, domestic or foreign. Last night
my favorite broadcaster dispensed the
Sermon on the Mount; this morning,
choice bits from Washingtons Farewell
Address. To these two great documents
we turn hopefully for guidance in an
almost hopeless age. A stricter minding
of our own business and greater faith
in tomorrow's ability to take care Of it
self-combined somehow with a more
generous application Of the Golden
Rule-will surely bring the good time
for which we pray. Our belief in magic
formulas was never greater-or more
pathetic.
Civilization is advanced not by the in
falibility Of our ancient precepts, but
by the intelligence with which we apply
them to new and ever more complex
conditions. The Golden Rule is older
than the Pharoahs. Yet it did not pre-
vent the building of those monstrous
tombs along the Nile that seem to us
cruel violation Of its spirit. There was
never wanting, we may be sure, some
clever but quite invalid argument for
bigger and better pyramids. Nor is today.
One reason for this failure of the
Golden Rule is not far to seek. Granted
the best will In the world, the most
benevolent intentions, how can we ever
be sure what the other fellow really
wants?
One would rather have fingers than
toes.
One would rather have eyes than a
nose, but beyond these elemental human
prejudices how far is 1t safe to 90?
John Doe when i'll asks only to be let
alone; but Richard Roe wants all his
friends to rally around. What my neigh
Dor likes or dislikes is to me a perpetual
source of establishment. The Egyptian
taskmaster no doubt thought himself a
public benefactor; we know that the
Southern planter did. Perhaps part of
the difficulty would disappear if we re-
verified to the earlier Jewish form, what
thou myself hatest, do to no man." It
would certainly save us much Yuletide
anguish.
AS for Washington and his Farewell
Address, one shudders to think of the
oaths he would swear could he return to
witness the use we are making of it. Did
ever so much cowardice hide behind so
brave man? when Hamilton wrote
me that speech" seem to hear him say
more calmly, I'VE were few strug-
Cling Colonies along part of the Atlantic
seaboard, with an undetermined West
that was forever in conflict with British
or Spanish claims. To keep out of Eu-
ropean quarrels was difficult but i'm
perative. Our first duty was at all costs
to survive. When we became the great
Nation foresaw we could plan more
resolute and independent course. That
is why I said, 1T is our true policy to
steer clear of permanent alliances with
any portion of the foreign world.
Taking care always to keep ourselves on
respectable defensive posture, we may
safely trust to temporary alliances for
extraordinary emergencies But was
careful to warn against any infldelity to
existing agreements. 80 I,hold,' said,
the maxim no less applicable to public
than to private affairs, that honesty is
always the best policy"
Now, just what did he mean by that?
Was he by any chance alluding to our
reputation Of his 9th successor. our
serapping Of the League. our abandon.
ment Of Europe and the world to the