Page:Frank David Ely -Why defend the nation? Sound Americanism... (1924).pdf/18

14 has been so because of the true understanding held in the masses of the people. In the changed conditions and increased complexity of life in this country, education in the basic American ideals and principles is far less universal than formerly; and we must assume the duty of properly preparing this material of government to serve all its needs, purposes, and ends by education during its growth, just as the steel-maker insures the quality of his product by correct processes and treatment during manufacture. So the question arises, and must hereafter be ever with us: Are we doing all that is essential to insure that in the present and future this nation shall not only endure, but shall healthily grow and develop in full keeping with the advances of science and of civilization, while still sacredly preserving American ideals?

That, fellow Americans, is the great all-inclusive question before us, now and forevermore. With the ever increasing complexity of live; with the increased difficulty of property assimilating our foreign populations; due to the prevalence throughout much of the world of unsound and revolutionary doctrines—because of these and other and new difficulties which will arise from time to time to be met and solved by this and each succeeding generation, it behooves every true American to be now and forevermore on guard.