Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1894-07-12

hands of great corpoI ations and even into
foreign hands, which should have be' n care
fully uarded as IA sacred trust for the peu-
pie. These are the mount evils Mhicb
threaten oar stability as people; inequi-
table methods of distribution az the prod
ucts OF all branches Of industry; the reck-
less alienation OF the pualie lands and for
ests and mines; the alarming growth aud
undue influence slf -, aEaast EallfSI1AAs-,
every man who rs willing tn do his share Of
the country's work, his share OF the coun-
trys production. To every man a fair
share, prnportionate I" his services. How
to do this is the question which conironts
us at every turn, demanding solution. 1t
Is like the question nf the Sphinx. not to
answer which is to die. If We do not find
our answer We, a people, must perish.
The statesmanship of the past has been
chiefly concerned with questions of foreign
policy, OF war and conquest. The states
manship of the present must address itself
To the problems of the public welfare. Ma
tional glory once consisted, nay even now
in many minds consists chiefly in the
achievements OF war, and the extension Of
territory. But the true national glory of
the future will consist in such an admins
tration of our own fairs that our country
shall be filled wit eontented, enlightened.
and patriotic people. Nations must and
will learn that territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
and interference with the affairs of other
nations is not their true function. We, and
with nations, as with individuals, self de-
velopment is the true object oi existence.
When We have redeemed our own country
from ignorance, from poverty, from inius-
tice, we may find 10 our duty to seek other
worlds to conquer but not I i'll then. Our
country is the first of the great nations of
the earth to recognize this essential truth,
but even we fall far short OF "A realization
of this ideal. We are still too much eneum-
bered with certain traditions of the past
We still miserahly fail oitentimes ia the
application oi sound judgment and integ-
rity to our systems OF industry, commerce
and finance. We STILL as "A people, allow
vast interests to he imperilcd ia the mad
struggles OF political partisAnship. Politics,
in its true sense OF the science and art OF
government has, or should have, in this
age, for it's chief object the proper regula-
latiou and perhaps direction of our indus
try, commerce and finance; pHrtisanshis
should not he permitted To lay its saerelig
ious hand upon them. nay, not 80 much as
it's little finger. Are we wise who permit
this act Of folly and crime so often to lie
perpetrated? Can we fatter ourselves that
we are an enlightened people when We stili
pursue "A certain course in these great mat
ters OF public policy for four years, and then
with rrck less caprice. turn and rend and
destroy our own handiw ork? Opinions dc,
and will differ on all these questions. but
no one but "A madman would think Of pur-
we follow in national matters Only AN
beetle would even think of applying to
his private business such methods as
constantly employ in our public business
Yet we, the mad a nd i'm beetle public, whatev-
er we may think OF ourselves as individuals,
go recklessly and carelessly on, and are toT-
sooth, greatly surprised when such "a Gala m
ity as thep resent befalls US. When will
we learn, when will we understand, that SO
long we permit national interests to be
| a l.. r -.
great quadrennial game, so long shall Ne
| lack the stability which alone can make
our prosperity permanent. We, n peo-
pie. believe ourself TO be adopts in the art
| of money ma king, and would DOUBTLESS be
| greatly surprised should any one assert the
| contrary; but are not deceived in this
| estimate of ourselyesr We permit and even
| sanction conditions which lead directly
| "A nd unavoidably TO prolonged and frequent
| strikes; to vast operations Tor the purpose
| of eornering the markets, and thereby ex-
| torting gain from the necessities, and dis
| tress of others; to reckless overproduction
and the ensuing stagnatioD; to violence.
| destruction and robbery ia all their myriad
| forms. Our annual national waste IN these
| various ways would almost feed our peo-
| pie. Are the problems OF stttesmanship
| all solved? Have we attained the best re
suits possible in industry, commerce, I'm
| ance? Is there nothing more to be done on
| these lines? II so, then We have fniled to
answer the Sphinx's question. which is put
| to all nations and we must perish. But
/ donot, 1 cannot, believe that thisis true. L
/ cannot believe that race which has thus
far solved every problem in such way that
it's course has been always upward aud on
| ward. is destined to fail in its solution of
the questions which confront it now. L
| cannot believe that race which has sue
| cessfully contended with every foreign ioe,
and overcome every external and domestic
| difficulty will miserably fail " hen il serious
ly applies itself to the problem Of doing
simple justice to it's own members. For
our task is just this: to give every individ-
ual of our nation a fair opportunity in the