The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-07-12
IThe independently
Social Tendencies Of the Interstate
Commerce Act.
BY d. MCG. MEANS.

cation of the people, and it seems to
be commonly understood that educa-
ton is the same thing as going to
school. But the maxim must have
some other meaning; for the decrease
in illiteracy has not been attended
with any corresponding improvement
in government, while it is obvious
enough that the most dangerous MEM
bers of our society are not the most
ignorant. There is an education OF
the intellect that is not an education
of the moral sense, and such educa-
ton may be politically Of little value.
A man may be personally honest, it is
true, from an intellectual conviction
that honesty is the best policy, but
very few attain such degree OF en-
lightenment as to apply this principle
to the affairs Of government. The
crying evil of the time is the lack OF
conscientiousness in politics, no less
on the part Of voters than on the part
Of their representatives.
According to another maxim, pop
ular government can endure only If
the holders Of property are in the ma
jority. Daniel Webster declared that
republican form of government rest
ed no more on political constitutions
than on the laws which regulate the
distribution Of property, and many
statesmen have dwelt upon the conser-
vative influence Of class of small pro-
prietors. The urgent necessity OF
developing such class is clearly rec
ognized in England since the extern
sion Of the suffrage. The idea Of
those who maintain this principle is
that men should have direct person.
al interest as owners of property in
order that the institution may be pre-
served. But it is clear that If this be
their meaning the second maxim is
only special form Of the first; the
possession of wealth, that is, has itself
an educating influence. 1t is an "ob-
ject lesson," adapted to impress GER
tain political principles upon the mind
by an appeal to the pocket. No
doubt such lessons are more efica-
cious in education than the study Of
abstract truths, and the Importance of
the maxim need not be questioned;
nevertheless its insuf6ciency is ap-
parent. limo country, except our
own, is there larger class Of proper
ty-holders than in France, and in no
country is popular government less
secure. The principal cause is to be
found in the atrophy Of local self-gov-
ernment. The people are unaccus-
toned to take part in political life,
and are consequently ignorant Of the
effect Of political measures upon their
own property as well as that Of their
country. Those who direct public
affairs, it must be added, seem to think
that moral considerations have little
place in politics.
For the healthy growth of democ-
racy, therefore, it is necessary that
there should be not only the educa-
ton that comes from the ownership
Of property, but also the education
that comes from the management of
communal affairs. The town is to
a considerable extent the type of the
state. Such matters as the preserva-
tion of order, the maintenance Of pub
lie works, the care Of the incapable
and destitute, the provision Of in
struction, the collection and disburse-
ment of revenue, constitute the chief
business of government whether it be
that Of small or large society. In
our little town-republics every citi-
zen has an opportunity to become ac-
quainted with such affairs, and to
learn from his own observation the
consequences Of the various measures
Of legislation and of administration.
He may be called upon frequently to
give up part Of his time to the du-
ties Of public Office, and is exposed
to some contempt if he refuses to
make the sacrifice without a good ex-
cuse. But in large city there is
nothing Of all this. An ordinary cit
izen has extremely little to say about
the preservation Of order, the public
works, the schools, the charities, the
taxes or the disbursements. Offices
are looked upon not as trusts but as
sources of emolument, and only in a
few conspicuous cases does the office
seek the man and not the man the Of
flee. The sacrifices incurred in &C
cepting public positions are the dis
honorable ones of the payment Of
money and the promise Of services,
and in the sole instance where man
may still take an active part in up
holding our institutions, jury-seryice,
the better classes, as they call them
selves, shrink from no device to Sc
cure exemption. It seems to be gen.
orally admitted that our great cities
are incapable of self-government, and
that they must depend for their saliva
tion upon the political virtue of the
rural districts, as represented in the
state legislatures.
It cannot be denied that such re-
fections as these have at present lit
tie influence. The selfish interests of