CALVIN COOLIDGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1924, Page 4

CALVIN COOLIDGE.

<. I A STUDY IX BEHSOXALITY. j J’erxWiaiity is always n factor of value and in popular elections it is generally a determining factor-. Party considerations and local interests u'ltdonlitedl.v carry great weight. and there comes times of popular passion when anyone carrying a particular slogan wins out lor the time being. Hut, as Tennyson put it. the i.ommonsense ol most’’ is in Dio long run the determining factor; and that “com-

monseiise” i» timinly inlluenced • by character and service, and the other elements that enter into what is summed up as “personality” the almost phenomenal victory of .Mr Calvin < oolidge in the I’residentnl election in America is the most recent instance of this fact.

Up to ihe time of his election, four years ago. as Vice-President, Mr Cunlidge was practically unknown outside the United States. lint within that territory he had won recognition as olio of those who, according to Carlyle, “cannot hut lie earnest ; when nature itself has appointed to lie sincere,” As principal of a college, as President of the State Senate of Massachusetts, and later on as Governor of that State, he had increasingly commended himself by the breadth of his culture, the loftiness of his ideals, and the straightforwardness of his administration. .From a volume or two of his speeches and productions. a good idea may he formed of the personality of one who has now become an outstanding figure in the public life of the world. lIICII IDKAI.S.

In his striking volume on “The Conservative .Mind" the author relates a conversation with one of the leaders ol the day. “As he told me that he does not see how man is to justify his place in the universe, mid so fultil the ultinmte purpose of the Creator, unless he acknowledges the great sanctions of religion. marries his personal liberty to prove unseliisliness. and dewlaps liis faculties with a high sense ol his rospoiisihilility both to God and man.” A pcrur.nl of the speeches of .Mr Coolidge and n study ol his career in the positions that lie has hitherto filled servo to show that he measures up to the standard thus set. In a speech at Tremon Temple in 1919. Conlidge declared: “The ocndiict of public allairs is not rt game. Ilesponsihle ollice does not go to the crafty. Governments are Hot founded upon an association for public plunder out of the co-operation-of men wherein each is seeking to do his duty." Again, in another speech he affirmed that “The defences ol the Commonwealth are not material, hut mental and spiritual”—a thesis which lie amplified and demonstrated I roll! past history and up-to-date American experience. “Service and sacrifice which have been the price of past progress nro tlie price of progress now.” Referring again to a comparison between Mr Coolidge and two of the outstanding figures in English public lile, the words of the author previously (pioled nro pertinent. ,\\ hat lie says ol .Mr Baldwin and Mr Ramsay .MacDonald may ci|iially he applied to Mr Conlidge. ‘‘Both men are earnest and iiiupicslinning Christians. Both men are inspired with the idea of lilting the human race from the Mpmlid and destructive materialism of recent times. Both men are solicitous that such 'should he the coudilions ol human life, that the soul of man may become naturally conscious of the spiritual nature of its spiritual destiny.” IDKAI.S OK KCOXOMIGS.

AYhilst intelligently and ardently sympathetic with the aspirations oi Bithour. Mr Conlidge does not hesitate to expose the fallacies, and to show the impracticability, ol a materialistic socialism. In his address on being

elected I’resident of the Massachusetts Senate, he allirmcd : “Mali is horn into the universe with a personality that is his own. lie lias a rigid that is loimded upon the const it lit inn ol the universe to have properly that is his own. Ultimately, property rights and personal rights are the same thing: the one cannot he preserved if the other he violated. kai h man i- entitled In his rights, and Die reward of his services. he they never so large or never so small.“ Sain - , sound teaching, indicative of a just perception ol the principles on which society is founded, and of the conditions oil which alone true progi'i ss can he secured. Go Die same line.- Mr ( - o>| idee also declared: “Me l 1 a broad'O . liinao'. dc-p o- laiDt in the people— a faith that men desire to do right, that- the Commonweallh is founded upon a righteousness which will endure, a reconstructed faith D" t the filial approval of the people is given. ii»t to demagogues slavishly pandering lo their selliishnc'S, merchandising with the clamour of (lie hour, but to statesmen miiiislering lo their wellare, represcnling their deep, silent, abiding

cnii vie! inns.’* I BEATS OF SERVICE. The Old Book tdls us that “As a man thinketh ill 1 1 is heart so i; he.’,’ II this lee true—and if it, also he true that thiighls are living Ihiues - then Die thoughts expressed hv Mr Coolidge limy he taken v ns indicating wliat are the moving springs of his own conduct and the determining principles in his public career. lie holds and teaches that “evervbodv must lake a more active

purl in pulilic :i(]:iiis.’' Duty is not collective; il is imm.-oii:>l. “It w ill nut <lc, for mi'll t<> send ; they must 1:0. Tt is nut ennui'll tn draw n elioipn*: Stood novernnionl cannot lio lioiistlil.. it Inis to 1 10 ('ivcll. . . Tim vnico nl llio ponjil.* spooks liy the vnico of I lie individii 1 1 . |.ot ovory inlialiilnnt malic known liis (lotoriiiiinitiiui tn support law ami ni'ilor. That duly is snpronii'.” Very cnipliat ioally .Mr Onolidno is ayniiist all attoinpls to raiso class ennseioiisnoss and tn sot one section of the population against anotlior. It is on that cry tliat snino iloiun<'n;'in.'s hope to

achieve a temporary success. Happily here again tin; coin moil sense of most prevails, ami it comes to lie seen that the interests of all sections of society are interlaced, and the welfare of one means broadly speaking the welfare of all, ami the suffering of one vibrates through the whole, lienee all violent altempts to subvert order and to secure individual or class advantage at' the expense of the community as a whole are inherently wrong, if not wicked. ‘There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody anywhere at any time;” so says i\lr C'onlidge, and his broad general indictment will he sustained h.v those who have a true grasp of the principles of democracy and of the constitutional methods of representative Government. “The Commonwealth is one. We are,' all members of one ho ly. The welfare | of the weakest and the welfare of the | most powerful are inseparably hound j I together. Industry cannot Moorish ifl labour languish. Transportation cannot prosper if manufactures decline. The general welfare cannot be provided for in any one act; but it is well to remember that the benefit of all. and the neglect of one is the neglect of all Tile suspension of one man’s dividem is the suspension of another man’s p: envelope.” And after all “laws mu he justified by somethin); more tha tin- will of the majority. They mm rest on the eternal foundation of righ eousness.”

THE OUTLOOK. Possessed of wide culture and of a high consecration, enriched and strengthened liv lengthy experience in ptililic affairs, Calvin Coolidge enters upon his great task with the approyal of the great majority of his countrymen, and with more than ordinary anticipation on the part of Britons everywhere. Hitherto, as a stop-gap President he has considered himself limited hy the programme of his predecessor. whose place he was unexpectedly called to fill. Now he occupies the While House as the result ol a direct personal election. He will have perfect right and full scope to give effect to his own policy. He fills a great ofiice. Me is charged with a great responsibility. He is possessed of a wonderful opportunity. Well-wishers throughout the world will echo the prayer of MY C’oolidge's fellow countrymen and sav:— Sail on, nor fear to breast the tide. Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears, Our faith triumphant o’er our fears, ' Are all with thee, are all with thee.