NEW PERSPECTIVES.

Evening Star, Issue 16625, 7 January 1918, Page 2

NEW PERSPECTIVES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Changes there will be, and consequently altered social and economic conditions, by virtue of thij woi-ld war, but to discuss and understand what shape they are goinsr to assume almost eludes us. Occasionally we get a glimpse of certain gradually altering conditions. The conversations one hears in tha streets, train. or tramcars give us an inkling. Well, this mingling together of the people in a collective sense, ar.d the consequent interchanging of ideas, create a mental atmosphere on affairs of import concerning our national well-being. Thes'o new conditions, become interwoven into the community, moulding tho inhabitants of this country towards "new perspectives" (war-created, no doubt), and they (will be reflected not only in the common life of tho people, but in the speeches and actions of our representatives in Parliament and other public bodies._ Whilst all this is undoubtedly true, it would certainly be wise not to build hastily. Let the foundations be well dug and lasting. Many world upheavals in the past have brought about altered conditions, and not always for good. Low:ell, of America,' has stated that " evil has its errand as well as good," and all psvctologists are well aware that in dire calamities (this awful war a case in point) there is a lot of "froth and bubble"—" surf ace stuff," I think, is tho term authorities use —meaning, of cotirse, that people get carried away with a kind of " new enthusiasm," leading to hasty and precipitate action, and Democracy ,jays the price. The political and economic machine is made in a hurry—whirlwind politics, indeed—unstable government being the natural corollary. In our new perspective Democracy must guard against al' this, aiming at the goal of the practical, and possibly remembering a, bit of Emerson's wisdom : " Man must bo made the destroyer of all card houses and paper walls and the sifter of all opinions by being put faee to face from his infancy with Reality."— I am, etc., Elliott Standfield. ' January 6.