(We Pe Le, #3)

If the present situation can in the
least be made concrete, it seems to me the
trend of history now is just what it has been
in the past in great crises of nations. Al-
ways there has been the question of value and
worth of personality as against all other phas-
es of advancing civilization. We say Hitler
and his forces represent the idea that the
state or something apart from personality is
the prime object of all social effort. The
democratic idea is that personality and not
government and nothing else but the develop-
ment of personality should be the chief con-
cern of the state. Whatever hinders the ful-
lest development of personality must be curb-
ed. Whatever develops personality and ex-
pands human capacity for intelligence, ac-
complishment and happiness must be encourag-
ede A state is abstract; personality is con-
crete. It is an absurdity that a state can
be something apart and above the individual
units that compose ite We can define the
limits of a state. No one yet short of the
Great Teacher of all history has ever defined
- the limits of personality.

No one can deny that in all wars
the entanglements of business, politics and
selfishness have sway of leadership. These
are temporary entanglements. Later the race
emerges with definite gains.

I think I have always lined up
with the latter view. I cannot see my way
very clearly in any direction, but I cannot
believe the great calamaties and devastation
of this war have come upon the world to no
plan or purpose. Always there has been plan
and purpose. Always it has developed benefi-
cence in the largest considerations. Regard-
less of all hindrances and devastating eras,
the race has marched steadily from barbarism
to more light, to the broader life and to
greater understanding.

On the more practical side, perhaps,
I am like yourself, I certainly cannot agree
with what seems to be the fundamental purposes
of the present administration, which have seem-
ed to take the line of least resistance, yet
we can be wronge The confusion in all this is
that many people are doubting their own doubts.
The belief grows upon me that at the end of
this world war some sort of new order will pre-