The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1895-12-06
POLITICAL NEGLECT.

1t is quite true, and the fact has deep
Significance, as ex-President Harrison
observes in a recent magazine article,
that ''God has never endowed any
statesman or philosopher, nor any body
of them, with wisdom enough to frame
a system of government that everybody
could go off and leave" There 1s, says
the Globe Dem crat, constant and
serious necessity of wAtchfulness on the
part of those vino are affected by It's
operations, particularly under such a
system as ours. The machinery is not
so organized that it can be relied upon
to render the desired service by virtue
of it's own inherent power. 1t Is only
what the men make it who are intrusted
with the control and direction of it, and
what it is permitted to be by the people
The idea of the delegation of authority
to chosen political agents does not carry
with it the condition of exemption for
citizens from duty and responsibility.
They are still in honor bound to exer-
else unremitting vigilance with regard
to the manner in which public affairs
are conducted. They have not the right
and they cannot afford to assume an at
titude of Indifference IN that respect.
"It is not enough" as Mr.. Harrison
says, "to construct and to start" There
must be close supervision to insure sue
cess, and 70 opportunity to encourage
faithful officers or to condemn delin-
quent ones should go unimproved. the
obligation of personal attention never
ceases. It is the basis of good citizen
ship, and cannot be sefely or excusably
disregarded on any occasion.
The American people have the repu-
tation of taking more interest in politics
than those OF any other country; but as
matter of fact, this interest is apt to
be only spasmodic, generally speaking,
and not regular and persistent. When
there is president to be elected, for in
stance, they rally to the support of theil
respective parties in Jealous way, anC
as long as the campaign lasts the air ii
filled with political enthusiasm. Bu
after the election, calmness and luke
warmness ensue, and nobody seems con
cerned about the matters that SO recent
ly caused so much activity and excite
ment. This comparative lethargy usu
ally continues until the time draws nea
for another casting of votes, and mean
while gross abuses often creep into tn,
processes of legislation and administra
tion, and trusted agents turn out to b
disappointing because they have no
been properly watched. The averag
citizen is absorbed in his private busi
ness to an extent that practically sus
pends his relation to politics, and tn
public interests are left to the mercy c
circumstances. Prof. Bryce related
with an accent of surprise, that when h
was in this country he travelled clea
across the continent without once heal
ing word spoken on any political topic
His experience is hardly to be taken g
a constant illustration; but it is true
unquestionably, that there is a preyai
ing disposition, except at certain inte
walls, to subordinate politics to othe
subjects.
This form of neglect, this evasion
duty and responsibility, is the source
most of our political evils and misfo
tunes. We allow mistakes to be mac
and wrongs to be perpetrated TIL
might be prevented. The theory thi
what is everybody's business is nobody
business blunts the sense of heedfulne
and provides chances for mischief
take root and grow.
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