Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-26
REASONS FOR COURAGE.

hEASoNS FUN Sot Political reforms come slowly in this
 or any other country, and are seldom |
 effected without a prolonged and per
 sistent agitation in advance. This may |
 be easily accounted for. The sloth of
 public opinion, the opposition of sinister
 interests, the absorption of mems minds
 in their personal affairs, and that pride
 of opinion which makes men unwilling
 to acknowledge that anything they have
 approved or sanctioned can be wrong,
 all have an influence, direct or uncon-
 scious, in keeping things as they are'
 even when a change is imperatively
 necessary. The fact, too, that, most men
 are impervious to new ideas after they
 have reached middle life Is deterrent
 influence, and it not infrequently happens
 that new generation has to be trained
 up in the reform principles before any
 outward movement can be effected. The
 question of abolishing slavery ill the United States was incubated for nearly
 a generation before the spirit of abolition
 took shape in active measures. Instances
 could be multiplied to prove the generic
 truth that the sentiment of political re- form is an exotic of slow and uncertain growth.
 It is this fact that has sometimes led men who are anxious for political re forms to doubt the wisdom of popular government, and to assert that hereditary
 or despotic rule is the better form of political power. And yet government
 of the people, by the people and for the
 people may find one of its strongest
 arguments in this very consideration.
 Under a popular government, where no considerable change can be made with out the concurrence of the people, or a majority of them,a reform once effected , is rarely reversed. In this fact reformers
 may find encouragement when their temper is tried and their patience eX-
 hausted by the sloth of public opinion and the seeming dullness of the popular
 conscience And there is another consi-
 iteration of still more importance. The general and prolonged dis cussion which necessarily precedes = reform in popular government has an l educating effect of the highest value. This has long been recognized by polit- t ical philosophers as one of the chief bene- ' fits that popular government confers, e and the history of such government in ) every age bears out this view. Questions a Involving principles of morals, the pros
 perity of commonwealths and the hap
 piness of thousands of persons cannot be a pondered by any man without improving l. to some extent both his intellect and n his character, and this educating in- S fluence is especially valuable in the case '- of the masses of men because of the cir s cumsciription of their mental horizon. S Men of leisure and men of intellectual s tastes can find means of culture and $ mental stimulus in various ways, but the e minds of the uneducated and toiling s masses are not stimulated unless by some c matter of great practical interest. As political affairs are of the
 highest importance to all, particularly
 in country where the control of affairs
 is lodged in the hands of the people, il f follows that the educating influence of ;1 political discussion and action is felt in q Q high degree, and is potent means of ', popular culture. The discussion by the :, more instructed minds of questions whicE o have a practical bearing will quicken the ;l popular intelligence and educate the s popular conscience as few other agencies l will.
 There is no reason therefore why the n advocates of tariff reform on lines tha 70 will bring the greatest measure of gooC 70 to the country should feel discouraged
 The discussion of the subject during the , recent campaign served to concentrate 6 popular interest in the matter a. 70 well as to disseminate intelligence to that must eventually bear frui M in the culmination of the desired reform ! And though the leaders of the movemen " have been defeated though the demo n cratic party has been sent into politica ,;- retirement for time, the intelligence o ,k the people will triumph and tariff reform an will come to stay. The discussion of tn .;r subject since President Cleveland brough re it before the people has had an effect o De the popular mind that may be less i'm ,o- portant than the reform itself.
 or The friends of tariff reform have n m reason to despair. Time will work ou He their ends, and that too, let us hope la- right effectually.
 1' How We Do It.
 'e' That's not our style," said an ol Ill merchant on Saturday, ''Hirsh, how d