Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-11-15
TINE DUrr OF rouNa AMpnroANs.
what rhoy shonld DO TO Promote

what They shonld DO 20 Promote
the Welfare of the Government.
From 1.-THE Routine Of the Republic"
by Edmund Alton, In 80. Nicholas for
November, Is tho following:
To say thst he onInprehends the Fed
eral power in all ita immensity, in NIL lite
ramincations, I'm oil Its far-renching Of
fecis, is to pay him compliment at the
expense Of fact. To know the reality, 10
know how far II Is actually working o At
the purposes for which II was established,
and how far 1t has swerved from its true
course, he must know more than consti-
tutional principles he mus know the
laws, the agencies created by those laws,
what those agents are doing, and the
methods which they employ. His
knowledge, OF the best, is but smatter-
ing; TO him, after all, the government is
little else than conjecture, fancy-n
airy, intangible, invisible theory.
This Ia blunt speech. For there are
tens Of Thousands Of citizens who have
very clear and correct notions about what
the government IL, and about what II
ought 10 be. The ''average American"
10, to be sure, an indefinite sort Of per-
son, and he is apt to think aud know
more about public affairs than he shows.
Bot there Is one class OF Americans to
which he does moi belong-Amerioan
who, unfortunately, do take what they
call practical view" o. thingH. Thy
know the blue book better than they
know the constitution they look upon
the government simply as o great oolloo.
tion OF Offices they know the salary at
tached 20 every office, and their highest
and only ambition, as citizens, Is 10 Sc
oure the best paying Offices for them.
selves. The American with his theory"
and imperfect knowledge 10 30 far ehead
of this type Of enlightenment as to put
comparison out of ill questign.
The American whO glories in the
majesty OF the republic, and who values
his own freedom, cannot afford TO dream;
tho duty he owes TO the commonwealth,
to society, a0d TO himself, he mnnot,
with honor or safety, ignore The true
grandeur OF our government depends
upon the justice Of it' laws those laws
depend upon the virtue, the patriotism,
and the wisdom of the people. Tho fignt
for Independence d d not end witn the
treaty OF peaca; nor did the adoption Of
tho constitution ssttle forever sll ques,
tons Of civil liberty and government.
Dangers have appeared in the past dan
gore menace us tod y 4; dangers viii yet
atite. They may come from the direc.
tion Of ths government, or ihoy may
come from society rs evils for the gov
eminent TO meet. The political struggle
now going GU, which the people are ex,
peoted to decide intellie emily al tho
polls, IL important, regarded from tho
standpoint either OF principle or OF
policy. For the rising generation, !
grAvfr questions and contests srs in
store. May they DO bfayely me and !
honorably determined by ihs ballot and |
this ohio, Weapons OF peace an law
Tho subie tf government isa pro.
found hnd monentorH one, yet Il Is no. |
wholly beyond the grasp of the yDuug I
II would bo au error FOR parents or
teachers TO withhold it from You 81 Il
mat er reserved for Older pinda. You
cannot bs too much impressed by ecu.
Bciousness Of its gravity you cannot
take too broad view OF national destiny
and OF your tights and duties as younger
citizens you cannot study these things
too soon.
\ Y0n are moi expected to ulunge a. once
/ into the depths OF political science -
/ you need not VeS your eNsly wits over
abstruse "econoa!gn puzzles. With time
and experience will come ability 10 |
handle disputed problems, and to follow |
the drift OF national policy and power.
Al tho start, the mask Of mystery Should
! u, PC q the f...-tJ Of government |
shouiu snJ hetoZs yOuy q 4aEts