The herald., 1895-08-25

do this. Thus the executive powers. es-
pecially. have dropped into designing
hands. "A stream cannot rise above its
source" This common saying has been
dragged INTO the councils OF citizens
seeking to improve our public business
by those who lack confidence in the NOR
ais, intelligence and patriotism OF the
American people.
1t is a wet blanket that implies a gen.
eral moral condition of the whole people
no better than that pervading our poll
tics. Certain South American countries
practically verbatim ct llteratlm. yet
their real government is a military des-
potism. held together by political plum
der and participated IN by minority so
situated as to suggest the feudal system.
We must admit then that "a people
makes its laws and government. Law
nor government make people, While
admitting the truth of this, we may an
swer the pessimist in the following:
First. The evolution of our political
system has gone too far in producing an
organization advantageous largely to
OF our machine methods makes individ-
ual financial gain the primary considera-
ton in what should be purely political
activities. Que stions OF policy are consider
ed only from necessity. Declarations OF
policy or platforms are made as the say
lug goes, W Rcb III OIi, VI 90 'hoihSoSo W
catch flies. The iueal position of the pol
itician is as a leader and teacher in great
public questions, leaving all administra-
tive affairs on a strictly administrative
basis Instead of this. our politicians.
in the great majority of cases, are either
loud -mouthed demagogues, seeking at
tention in moments OF discomfort by ex-
travagant pandering to our excitement
or resentments. or they are engaged in
fence walking and a cowardly, time .serv-
ing hide-and- -go-seek for lost principles.
In either case the political activity is
only exceptionally for believed princi-
pie. 1t is really for office. salary, con
tracts. patronage, etc. Thus we have
come to mix up our technical and routine
public business with questions OF policy
and principle with which they not only
| have no connection but wohse proper So
luton they hamper or prevent. The
! bright side of this situation is that the
people do not like it. In fact the people
| only want to see clear road of egress out
! of our political swamp to take it.
Second-The moral tone of the public
business is distinctly lower than that of
private business. This is shown by the
! fact that private business matters are bet
| ter. more honestly and more economic ical-
| " managed than our city business. con-
| sequently there is q handsome margin
for the i'm provement OF public business
| before it passes above the spring OF pup
| lie honesty and efficiency from which its
excellence must flow. The present con-
dition of our local politics is surely not
perfect. Ii not perfect it is susceptible of
| Improvement. If susceptible of improve
ment it is our duty as citizens of this
great republic to carefully cons der and
then to so energetically act as to bring all
possible improvement into our local sys-
tenn of government.
American city government is today be-
hind that of Holland, OF Denmark, OF
Belgium, of Scotland. Of Hungary, of
England. In fact there is no part of the
civilized world in which city govern
ment IS so open to reproach as it is in
America. This Is not only disgrace to
the intelligent American citizen but II Is
as we'll a stigma and scoru upon all
free government and u denial to humani-
ty of its hopes in ideals OF Democracy.
Let us citizens of Los Angeles seek a
plan of remedy and try it,
If at first we don't succeed there is but
one thing to do. try. try again.