AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21258, 11 August 1932, Page 12

AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

gj rj —After reading your abridged report 'of the "concluding lecture on 'The United States Constitution as an Experiment in Democracy," I thought* what a great pity it was that the necessary liniiation of space prevents your publishing Mr. James M. Beck's addresses i n full. It was surprising to see. the eagerness which was expressed bv people in London for knowledge with regard to America. On the first evening I arrived half an hour* before starting-time, and found the college hall crowded. Just before 6.30 there were enough men and women to easily fill King's College large theatre. Even this large building was fitted with broadcast apparatus. Attending the complete course I noticed that this enthusiasm was well maintained. The former United States Solicitor-General was indeed an extremely able exponent of his subject. Of course, he read from a manuscript, bnt he had the happy knack of making many a brief interpolation, dealing with important current events. Mr. Beck was fortunate in having for his chairman distinguished educationalists, statesmen and judges. All these gentlemen made admirable speeches. Of them," Lord Macmillan's was perhaps the best. He said: ,"Thers could have been no fitter time for a discussion of this sort. The world was engaged in stocktaking. Convictions, views, and opinions were in the melting-pot. Political, ethical, economic and legal systems were all. being called to account. This was what always happened ifl a period of adversity. Perhaps it was one of the sweet uses of adversity that it called upon us to consider our values, examine our assets, discard what was petty and obsolescent, and to cherish more. the things that really mattered." S. G LADING.