The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1894-04-19


itself like monsters of the deep,) tacitly
consent TO an assumption of power on
the part of few in return for the
protection given. Government is the
institution founded and necessarily
maintained to prevent or control alb
normal social conditions. Admitting
this to be true, then the form that this
authority assumes, carries with it pc
culiar and vital questions and other So
cial characteristics, those when devel-
oped by self-government become mile
stones in a nations progress; but re-
pressed, they mark the stages of ma
tional degeneration and disintegration.
Aristotle classifies government under
three heads, tyranny, oligarchy and
democracy; government by the one, by
the few, by the majority. The first de-
nies personal liberty or private rights,
the same is true also of the second, the
last in measure presumes both, and
in it's true form, approaches nearer to
ideal government than any system yet
known, pure democratic self-govern
ment, theoretically ours, practically,
as applied in Switzerland, constitutes
the only true form Of good government.
Since the primary object of govern
ment is to insure strength, security and
order, and through proper laws to en-
hance their material welfare, and these
ends are secured only by the direct ap
plication of such laws as have these
principles indirectly in view, then, to
receive adequate and ample protection,
a fair measure of justice, the citizen
must have an equal voice in the making
of laws and in their administration. He
must feel that government is not for
the aggrandizement of its leaders but
for the advancement of all; he must
feel that it will protect the lives and
properties of it's citizens and through
the medium of just and equal laws
advance their interests and promote
their moral and material welfare That
it will broaden their sphere of useful
ness and enable them to do right from
choice rather than through fear or
necessity. That it WILL by judicious
management, entitle him to fair por-
ton of the national wealth, provide,
after reasonable eXertion and time, a
home wherein he may be reasonably
happy and content and dwell at peace
with the government and humanity.
These in general way are the true
aims of government and it follows that
the form which preserves and perpetu-
ates these aims and the inalienable
rights of it's citizens and of humanity,
that gives equal rights and in SO far as
possible, equal opportunities to all, re-
gardless of sex, color or condition;
that stands ready to maintain for the
citizen within it's domain that liberty
, and those rights which it enforces for
him beyond those domains, that teach
) es limited liberty to be true liberty, that
enables them to govern themselves in
dividually and collectively, that form
! by which these ends are more readily
: and effectively reached is the best.
So then, the form by which we are
' governed, becomes an important factor
: in our social development, through the
5 good or evil influence that it may have
l upon our ideas of social life and
!; through it on national affairs.
4 The time has passed when the foun
: dation of good government was ground
S ed in and rested upon good arms. That
i foundation to-day rests on the solid ma
). sonry of justice and equality, morality
S and frugality, love of country and hu
e manity, free educational facilities, un
+ sectarian in nature yet moral in struct
l, ure and the liberal use of temperance
S and moderation in all affairs. Thes,
n ends can be attained only by pure
r, democratic form of governments; tn,
S only form by which the above principles
g can be universally extended and ap
S piled. Under it, the relations of tn
J. governing and governed, are, and be
$ come reciprocal. Good citizens Great
Il good government and it in turn pro
V, duces good citizens, each enhances tn
O value of the other, hence each has
w. positive and vital interest in the other