It may be argued that war compels socialization, that after the war the world will perforce return to materialistic individualism.  But this calamity, terrible above all others, has warned us of the imperative need of an order that shall be socializing, if we are not to witness the destruction of our civilization itself.  Confidence that such an order, thanks to the advancement of science, is now within our grasp should not be difficult for Americans, once they have rightly conceived it.  We, who have always pinned our faith to ideas, who entered the conflict for an Idea, must be the last to shirk the task, however Herculean, of world reconstruction along the lines of our own professed faith.  We cannot be renegades to Democracy.

Above all things, then, it is essential for us as a people not to abandon our faith in man, our belief that not only the exceptional individual but the majority of mankind can be socialized.  What is true of our physicians, our scientists and professional men, our manual workers, is also true of our capitalists and business men.  In a more just and intelligent organization of society these will be found willing to administer and improve for the common weal the national resources which formerly they exploited for the benefit of themselves and their associates.  The social response, granted the conditions, is innate in humanity, and individual initiative can best be satisfied in social realization.

Universal education is the cornerstone of democracy.  And the recognition of this fact may be called the great American contribution.  But in our society the fullest self-realization depends upon a well balanced knowledge of scientific facts, upon a rounded culture.  Thus education, properly conceived, is a preparation for intelligent, ethical, and contented citizenship.  Upon the welfare of the individual depends the welfare of all.  Without education, free institutions and universal suffrage are mockeries; semi-learned masses of the population are at the mercy of scheming politicians, controversialists, and pseudo-scientific religionists, and their votes are swayed by prejudice.

In a materialistic competitive order, success in life depends upon the knack—­innate or acquired, and not to be highly rated—­of outwitting one’s neighbour under the rules of the game—­the law; education is merely a cultural leaven within the reach of the comparatively few who can afford to attend a university.  The business college is a more logical institution.  In an emulative civilization, however, the problem is to discover and develop in childhood and youth the personal aptitude or gift of as many citizens as possible, in order that they may find self-realization by making their peculiar contribution towards the advancement of society.