Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-11-27
ON A TIMELY TOPIC.
Hon. John J. ingalls, Lectures
in Rock Island.
THE SECOND CENTURY PROBLEM

The Sun Flower State Orator Speaks of the
Indifference Of American CitIzenshjp as
the Most Formidable Question OF the
Day-SowinG What We Reap.
A splendid audience greeted the
renowned orator, ex-senator John J.
Ingall, Of Kansas, at the chapel of
Augustana college last evening. AZ
ter two excellent songs by the Apollo
quartet the lecturer was introduced
by the president of the Lyceum,
Emil G. Chindlund. Mr.. Ingalls, pre-
faced his address with few choice
humorous pyrotechnics. which, cx-
plodipg, created a storm OF applause
which did not subside until the
speaker had slipped into his great
subject, Problems of Our Second
Century," after which the audience
was kept spell-bound for more than
an hour and 80 minutes.
At the outset of his observations
and in the vestibule of his remarks
he spoke of what he considered to be
the most serious and formidable
problem that is threatening our
American society and civilization to-
day, and that is the indifference, the
inattention and neglect. the igno-
rance of the educated, upright, moral
and Christian classes in our society
to the discharge of their political
rights and duties as citizens of this
republic. Because every question
under this system in which we live
is political question to be decided
by the msn and women who are
growing up to manhood and woman
hood. They are to be decided by
them at the ballot box.
Complaint of the Times.
1.-The complaint of the times. in
which we live," said Mr.. Ingalls,,
land the reproach is bad government
and corruption in modern society.
the pulpit, in the press and from the
platform, of degradation and corrnp-
ton in the government; p'utocracy,
or the government by millionaires;
bossism, or corruption in municipal
affairs; boodlism in great cities, the
sale of franchises by legislatures, de-
falcation of high officials in the dis
charge of their duties; and there is
no better place than this platform.
no better auspices under which to
say that for the evils, corruptions
and mal-administration of our soci.
ETY. and government, the best people
are responsible. The people Of this
country in every community and
locality have exactly as good govern
ment as they deserve to have. The
government in every city, town and
state is what the best people saw fiji
to make; and, if your taxes are ex'
cessive, If your revenues are squan.
dered, and if evil and designing
rogues and knaves mount to power,
it is not the fault of the institutions
of society, but of the men and womer
who form that society. because they
neglect their political and social
duties. If congress errs in it's dutie:
It's not the fault OF congress. bu
the fault OF the people who sent the
representatives there"
Should Fay More Attention to Politics.
1t is necessary, he held, fol
the upright, religious and edu
Gated classes to pay greater at
tention to their political du.
ties. In other words they should
be politicians; not in the sense of be-
ing seekers after office. but in a more
patriotic sense. by taking constant
interest in public affairs. In speak.
ing of the rights and privileges Of
American citizenship, the speaker
said some legislation should be en-.
acted that will prevent any mar
from setting foot on board ship
which is about to sail for these
shores, unless he has afiirmatively
established the fact to the officer for
that purpose appointed that he is
able and willing to be a selfsupport.
ing. patriotic American citizen. ..Aud
l believe nothing could so far con
tribute to the preservation of thi:
great franchise and to the maintain
ing of equal rights for ALL" cor
tinued Mr.. Ingalls,, "than for
every community. no matter where
it might be. to Place in its law /.
/
fern the last act of American citi
zenship unless able to read and
write and speak the English tongue
which is upon the ballot which BIZ
deposits in the box"
| Remedy.
In conclusion the distinguished
orator said that to solve the grea,
problems presented to the American
people the true remedy will be founc
not in Legislation or enactment. bui
in the faithful, conscientious and
patriotic discharge of the politica
and social duties of every American
citizen. In this way shall we be ell
abled to make this, as our fathers in
tended it should be. government o.
laws and not government of men
land do not forget. he said. ..in tn,
great struggles that are before you
and to which you are committed
that there is one inexorabl,
universal law, to which W,
are are all subject; law a
high as heaven and as deep as hell: :