patriotic occasions. I mean the sincere love of Democracy.

But a larger sympathy and appreciation are needed. The young man who goes out into life favorably disposed toward those who have had much the same environment 5 and opportunity may still be lacking in the broader sympathy which should embrace all his fellow-countrymen. He may be tolerant and democratic with respect to those who, despite differences in birth and fortune, he may regard as kindred spirits, and yet in his relation to 10 men at large, to the great majority of his fellow beings, be little better than a snob. Or despite the camaraderie of college intercourse he may have developed a cynical disposition or an intellectual aloofness which, while not marked enough to interfere with success in many voca- 15 tions, or to disturb his conventional relations, largely disqualifies him from aiding his community as a publicspirited citizen. The primary object of education is to emancipate; to free from superstition, from the tyranny of worn-out notions, from the prejudices, large and small, 20 which enslave the judgment. His study of history and of the institutions of his country has been to little purpose if the college man has not caught the vision of Democracy and has not been joined by the troth of heart and conscience to the great human brotherhood which is working 25 out its destiny in this land of opportunity.

The true citizen will endeavor to understand the different racial viewpoints of the various elements which enter into our population. He will seek to divest himself of antipathy or prejudice toward any of those who have 30 come to us from foreign lands, and he will try, by happy illustration in his own conduct, to hasten appreciation of the American ideal. For him "American" will ever be a word of the spirit and not of the flesh. Difference in custom or religion will not be permitted to obscure the 35 common human worth, nor will bigotry of creed or rela

tion prevent a just appraisement. The pitiful revelations of ignorance and squalor, of waste and folly, will not sap his faith. He will patiently seek truly to know himself and others, and with fraternal insight to enter into s the world's work, to share the joys of accomplishment, and to help in the bearing of the burdens of misery. He will be free from the prejudice of occupation or of residence. He will not look askance either at city or at country. For him any honest work will be honorable, and those IO who are toiling with their hands will not be merely economic factors of work, but human beings of like passions and possessed of the "certain unalienable rights." Neither birth nor station, neither circumstance nor vocation, will win or prevent the esteem to which fidelity, honesty, and 15 sincerity are alone entitled. He will look neither up nor down, but with even eye will seek to read the hearts of

men.

The lover of democracy will have no desire to see the tyranny of despots replaced by the tyranny of a majority 20 taking unto itself the conduct of individual life and the destruction of its hope. He knows that no community can be free if its members are deprived of liberty. But he also knows that he will utterly fail to find the sure basis for his liberty, under our social conditions, in his inde25 pendent action, and that this foundation must be secured by intelligent coöperation. To save society from overreaching and impoverishing itself by arbitrary interference and at the same time to uphold the public right as supreme, to secure the benefits of collective effort while wisely safe30 guarding individual opportunity and initiative, is the patriotic and difficult task which should enlist the best thought and unselfish endeavor of every citizen who appreciates the advantages and the dangers of the Republic.

35 The citizen should contribute something more than sympathy with democracy, something more than respect

for individual and community interests, something more than adherence to the standards of fair dealing. Sympathy and sentiment will fail of practical effect without independence of character. A man owes it to himself so to conduct his life that it be recognized that his assent cannot be expected until he has been convinced. He should exhibit that spirit of self-reliance, that sense of individual responsibility in forming and stating opinion, which proclaims that he is a man and not a marionette..

The normal man naturally tends to work with others; 10 to him the sentiment of loyalty makes a powerful appeal. And the counsel that is most needed is that men in the necessary action of groups should not lose their individual power for good by blind following. The man who would meet the responsibilities of citizenship must determine 15 that he will endeavor justly, after availing himself of all the privileges which contact and study afford, to reach a conclusion which for him is a true conclusion, and that the action of his group shall if possible not be taken until, according to his opportunity and his range of influence, his 20 point of view has been presented and considered.

The first lesson for a young man who faces the world with his career in his own hands is that he must be willing to do without. The question for him at the start and ever after must be not simply what he wants to get, but 25 what he is willing to lose. "Whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it," is the profoundest lesson of philosophy. No one can fight as a good soldier the battles of democracy who is constantly seeking cover.

Whether you like it or not, the majority will rule. 30 Accept loyally the democratic principle. The voice of the majority is that neither of God nor of devil, but of Do not be abashed to be found with the minority, but on the other hand do not affect superiority or make the absurd mistake of thinking you are right or entitled to 35 special credit merely because you do not agree with the

men.

common judgment. Your experience of life cannot fail to impress you with the soundness of that judgment in the long run, and I believe you will come to put your trust, as I do, in the common sense of the people of this 5 country, and in the verdicts they give after the discussions of press, of platform and of ordinary intercourse. The dangers of the overthrow of reason and of the reign of passion and prejudice become serious only as resentment is kindled by abuses for which those who have no sym10 pathy with popular government and constantly decry what they call "mob rule" are largely responsible. But whether the common judgment shall exhibit that intelligence and self-restraint which have given to our system of government so large a degree of success, will depend 15 upon your attitude and that of the young men of the country who will determine the measure of capacity for self-government and progress in the coming years.

Prize your birthright and let your attitude toward all public questions be characterized by such sincere demo20 cratic sympathy, such enthusiasm for the common weal, such genuine love of justice, and such force of character, that your life to the full extent of your talent and opportunity shall contribute to the reality, the security, and the beneficence of government by the people.

25

THE SPIRIT OF SELF-GOVERNMENT°

BY ELIHU ROOT.

(1912)

My friends, the noise and excitement of a great presidential campaign is over; the stress and strain, the over-statements, the warping of judgment by personal considerations and by old associations, have passed into memory, and we are all at rest; and during this period of rest, which in 30 this active and vigorous and progressive country must be but short, it seems to be a good time for national introspection.

I have been thinking whether passing beyond and behind all the issues that we have been discussing, we can answer in the affirmative or the negative a crucial question, underlying them all, and that is this: Are we advancing in our capacity for self-government? Are we 5 maintaining our capacity for self-government?

All the rest is unimportant compared with that. If we have the spirit of a true self-governing people, whichever way we decide the questions of the moment, we come through right. Whatever we do about the tariff, or about 10 the trusts, or about the railroads, or about wages, or about corporations, or whatever we do about any of the issues before the American people, if we have at heart the true spirit of a free governing democracy, we come through right. What is it? What is the spirit of a free self- 15 governing democracy? What are its essentials, and have we them to a greater or a less degree? What is the tendency, is it up or down?

Of course a people to be self-governing must have independence of character and courage; that we know we 20 have. Throughout the length and breadth of our land the Americans have an attitude in which one recognizes no social or political superior, in which every man knows himself to be a man of equal manhood with all others and has the courage to speak his opinions and to maintain 25 them; and we thank God for that.

But that is not enough; that is not all. All histories of wild and savage people, all the histories of lawless and undisciplined men, all the histories of civil wars and revolutions, all the histories of discord and strife which check the onward march of civilization and hold a people stationary until they go down instead of going up, admonish us that it is not enough to be independent and courageous.

30

Self-governing people must have the spirit which makes them self-controlled, which makes every man competent 35 and willing to govern his impulses by the rule of declared

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