St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-05-27
TOO MUCH OF MANY GOOD
THINGS

1t Is possible to have too much of
good thing, Notwithstanding the proverb
to the contrary. We are witnessing evil
dences Of this fact every day. Govern
ment is good thing, but two much of
government leads to despotism; protec-
ton is good thing, but all excess of
protection becomes paternalism; liberty
is good thing, bus carried to all ex-
IRENE it becomes license and lawless-
ness.
The people of the United States are
today learning some of the evil results
of having too much Of good thing For
years there was a general acquiescence
in the policy of furnishing protection to
our infant industries. They grew and
thrived and became giants of wealth
and power, but still they claimed pro-
tection-demanded as right what had
at first been granted as favor And
now they are the controlling power in
the nation. At their behest congress
bows. and enacts that each man.
woman and child in the country shall
pay tribute to the lords of MONOPOLY
And when the people, driven to resist
ohSS W WV SPPIOoSlOuo VI UlllS UOWeT.
have arisen and demanded the curtail-
ment of their privileges the monopolists
have bid them defiance. Congressman
elected on the issue of tariff reform sit
IN their seats and coolly do the bidding
OF the foes of their constituents, and, If
the latter protest, impudentIy ask:
"What are you going to do about it?"
The recreant congressman are "soid"
with the monopolists. and they care
nothing for the people.
Temperance is good thing. No good
citizen approves of traffic that makes
men bestial and brings sorrow and dis
grace upon the heads of innocent women
and children. Butt the prohibitionists, es-
timable citizens though they may be,
and animated by the best of motives.
are Incorporate in their demands, and
do more to bring the cause they espouse
into disrepute than all the aspersions of
their enemies. All men honor those
who abstain from the use of intoxicants,
but they rebel instantly if an effort is
made to compel all others to be equally
abstemlous. 1t is an interference with
personal liberty and privilege that Will
not be tolerated in this enlightened age.
Every man is to certain extent his
brothers keeper. and responsible in a
measure for his good or evil conduct.
But this responsibility does not war
rant him in officious and unwarrantable
interference with the personal concerns
of his neighbors. Every one should be
interested in promoting the general
happiness of those with whom lie comes
in contact, but he has no right to NEEDLE
with affairs or to criticise actions that
affect only the individual welfare. Coun-
sci and advice are always permissible,
but any attempt to dictate the conduct
of others is properly resented.
We are told that speech is silver,
while silence is golden. At the present
time our national legislature is treating
US to deluge of silver. There is an i'll
terminable stream of talk flowing
through the chambers of congress, and
all to no purpose. Progress on pending
legislation is blockaded in order that
embryo orators and statesmen may have
an opportunity to display their elo-
quence ard finesse. Although oratorv
is good thing, we are having too much
of it in congress.
In the abstract it denotes healthful
public sentiment when the people carry