l, no
longer stirs the blood of the American youth, and that the real
enthusiasm for self-government must be found among the groups of young
immigrants who bring over with every ship a new cargo of democratic
aspirations. That many of these young men look for a consummation of
these aspirations to a social order of the future in which the
industrial system as well as government shall embody democratic
relations, simply shows that the doctrine of Democracy like any other
of the living faiths of men, is so essentially mystical that it
continually demands new formulation. To fail to recognize it in a new
form, to call it hard names, to refuse to receive it, may mean to
reject that which our fathers cherished and handed on as an
inheritance not only to be preserved but also to be developed.

We allow a great deal of this precious stuff--this _Welt-Schmerz_ of
which each generation has need--not only to go unutilized, but to work
havoc among the young people themselves. One of the saddest
illustrations of this, in my personal knowledge, was that of a young
Russian girl who lived with a group of her compatriots on the west
side of Chicago. She recently committed suicide at the same time that
several others in the group tried it and failed. One of these latter,
who afterwards talked freely of the motives which led her to this act,
said that there were no great issues at stake in this country; that
America was wholly commercial in its interests and absorbed in money
making; that Americans were not held together by any historic bonds
nor great mutual hopes, and were totally ignorant of the stirring
social and philosophic movements of Europe; that her life here had
been a long, dreary, economic struggle, unrelieved by any of the
higher interests; that she was tired of getting seventy-five cents for
trimming a hat that sold for twelve dollars and was to be put upon the
empty head of some one who had no concern for the welfare of the woman
who made it. The statement doubtless reflected something of "The
Sorrows of Werther," but the entire tone was nobler and more highly
socialized.

It is difficult to illustrate what might be accomplished by reducing
to action the ardor of those youths who so bitterly arraign our
present industrial order. While no part of the social system can be
changed rapidly, we would all admit that the present industrial
arrangements in America might be vastly improved and that we are
failing to meet the re