Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol4, 1920.pdf/187

 revolution was prepared by generations, by long political education. Never for a moment did I forget that after the revolutionary enthusiasm men will return to the old tracks; for man is a creature of habit. I observed people during the war in all countries, under all circumstances, I observe them at home and realize, how difficult it is for men to overcome old ideas and habits, how difficult to live up to those mottoes which they accept and even preach with enthusiasm. We all cry for purification from everything Austrian, but that means more than the abolition of a rule by dynasty; it means a change of our entire moral habits.

Someone may point out in this connection that men and nations are not governed by reason, science or philosophy, but by emotions. That is true. Emotions determine our ideals, emotions give the motives of our efforts, but correct means must be determined by reason and reason alone. And therefore modern democracy always declared science and philosophy to be its foundation.

I do not forget as a democrat that people, the mass, has much to do with democracy. I appreciate what our constitution says: The people is the only source of all state authority. Yes, but no individual must hide behind the people and the masses. No significant movement in history was anonymous; always certain individuals led it by their personal authority, whether these individuals were Bismarck, Marx and Engels, or finally Lenin. Without personal courage and responsibility one cannot pursue democratic and popular politics.

I wish we had in all departments many men who can observe and think; only their co-operation will assure to us prosperous development. The ideals of humanity and democracy I always considered sub specie aeternitatis—from the standpoint of eternity. War and its horrors lead to meditation on problems of religion. I find in religion the ideal of true perfection and hence an objective standard for all human actions. This ideal of perfection teaches man to avoid pettiness and meanness. I would change Hálek’s well-known verse to read: “God, do not let us grow common-place.” The appreciation of eternity makes us humble, strengthens the sense of moral responsibility and leads to a recognition of general harmony. Hence we also get the understanding of the development and gradual improvement of the world and society. Our faith in progress is confirmed and we understand that everything cannot be reached at once. I would say that we learn patience, but not passiveness: on the contrary, to fathom out the order and law that governs the world leads to energetic co-operation of all.

Elections are before us. I rejoice with you that we have our own constitution, one that I gladly recognize as satisfactory. Now the question is to go ahead in all departments in the sense of this constitution. These first elections will give us an opportunity to demonstrate the degree of our political maturity. Elections are only the first step I what will come after elections. We must elect deputies who will and can carry on European and world-wide politics.

Many pleasant messages came to me today, bringing out that my life was a very fortunate one. I must confess that the word “fortunate” never carried much meaning for me. I never believed in accident, I did not believe in casualty in the life of individuals and nations. Fortunate is he who has a rich life content, fortunate is he who can, at least partly, through honest effort realize his ideals. In this sense I am fortunate, but it is not my good fortune alone, but of all who with me struggled for the liberty of the nation. I never talked much of myself, and even today it is difficutl to say something of myself. I will only promise you that the tasks entrusted to me by the will of the people I shall faithfully and tirelessly carry out. I shall try, in accordance with the bequest of Havlíček, to carry on policies of reason and honesty, policies that are truly Czechoslovak.

I thank heartily all that today remembered me.

Jaroslav J. Zmrhal, principal of the Herzl school in Chicago, is going this month to Czechoslovakia at the invitation of the ministry of education to look over the system of public education in the Republic and suggest improvements on the basis of methods which made good in the United States. Bohemian schools taken as a whole are fully up to the American standard, in fact are more efficient, as there are practically no illiterates in Bohemia or Moravia. But while the Bohemian public school gives the child good general education and equips it with a larger fund of knowledge than the child receives even in a good city school in America, the system over there emphasizes the three R’s too much at the expense of bringing out those traits of character that make for self-reliance, practical adaptability and success in life.

Professor Zmrhal is particularly well equipped for his task. He is aware of the good points of the Bohemian school system and will not antagonize the teachers by urging any wholesale change in methods and courses. But as a practical pedagogue of long experience he will set forth the advantages of such reforms as have proved their worth in the experience of American public schools.

On the same ship with Mr. Zmrhal will go Dr. Adolph Mach, a Chicago dentist, who served with the Czechoslovak legions and after his discharge accepted appointment as professor of dentistry in the new University of Bratislava in Slovakia.