Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1888-12-12
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To say that he conlprehends the Fed
eral power in all its immensity, in al it,
ramifcations, in all its far-reacling ef-
fleets, IL TO pay him . compliment ct the
expense OF fact. To know the reality,
to know how far il il actually working
ont the purpose for which il was estab-
lished, and how far il has swerved from
its true coarse, he must know more than
Constitutional principles; he must know
the laws, the agencies created by those
laws, what those agents are doing,
and the methods which they employ.
His knowledge, ct the best, Is but .
smattering to him, after all, the Govern
ment is little else than q conjecture, .
fancy--an airy, intangible, invisible
theory.
This is blunt speech. For there are
tens Of thousands Of citizens who have
very clear and correct notions about
what the Government is, and about
what it ought to lie. The average
American is, to be sure, an indefinite
sort Of person. and he is apt to think
and know more about public affairs
than he shows. But there is one class
Of Americans to which he does not be-
long Americans who, unfortunately, do
take what they call practical view"
of things They know the Blue Book
better than they know the Constitution;
they look upon the Government simply
as great collection of Offices; they
know the salary attached to every Office;
and their highest and only ambition, as
citizens, is to secure the best paving
offices for themselves. The American
with his theory and imperfect knowl-
edge is so far ahead OF this type Of "en-
lightenment' as to put comparison out
of all question.
The American who glories in the
majesty of the Republic, and who values
his own freedom. cannot afford to dream;
the duty he owes to the commonwealth,
to society, and 10 himself, he can not,
with honor or safety, ignore. The true
grandeur of our government depends
upon the justice of its laws; those laws
depend upon the virtue, the patriotism,
and the wisdom Of the people. The fight
for independence did not end with the
Treaty Of Peace; nor did the adoption
of the Constitution settle forever all
questions Of civil liberty and govern
HcAt. DaHScIS uhNc uppcuIcu LII JIG
past; dangers menace us to-day; dam
gers will yet arise. They may come
from the direction of the Government;
or they may come from society, as evils
for the Government to meet
The subject of government is pro-
found and momentous one, yet it is not
wholly beyond the grasp Of the young,
1t would be an error for parents or
teachers to withhold it from you as
matter reserved for older minds. You
cannot be too much impressed by
consciousness of its gravity; You can
not take too broad view of national
destiny and of your rights and duties as
younger citizens; you cannot study
these things too soon.
You are not expected to plunge at
once into the depths of political
science you need not xex your early
wits over abstruse economic" puzzles.
With time and experience will come
ability to handle disputed problems,
and to follow the drift Of national policy
and power. At the start, the mask of
mystery should be lifted off; the reality
of government should stand before your
thoughts. - Edmund Alton, in st.
Nicholas.