The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-09-17

of life and liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness. The great common people believe
in {" democratic form of government, be-
cause it is only III democratic form of
government that they are able TO protect
their rights and advance their interests,
so far as the government can advance
human interests
Let me dwell for a moment upon the
object of government. In this land it is
our boast that our government derives its
just powers from the consent of the gov
erned. What kind of government will
people consent to when they are free to
consent? There is one kind of govern
ment above all other kinds that they love.
And government which knows no IA
voritism. n government in which every
citizen stands on the same plane, ard
whore the government treats them all
alike without regard to position in socie-
ty, or even without regard to wealth;
government which gives equal rights TO
all but confers special privileges upon
none. That is the kind of government
that appeals to the affections of the COM
mon people.
The Duties of Government.
There are two things to be considered
in government. The first is that in the
enactment of legislation you shall be care
full to give no advantage to one person
over another, il that advantage can be
prevented. In other words, it is the duty
of government to avoid acts of affirmative
injustice; but that is only part of the bust
ness of government. Jefferson has stated
the other half of it. He says that govern
ment must restrain men from injuring
one another. That is one of the important
duties of government, to restrain men
from injuring one another, and the gov
nrnrnpnt that fails fn troi tho or
est arm that can be lifted from injuring
the weakest citizen in all the land is Il
government which fails to do its whole
duty.
Our government is the best form of
government known among men. Our gov
ernment is the best form of government
known among men, not because every law
is good, not because we have upon the
statute books every law needed to protect
each citizen in the enjoyment of his rights.
Our government is the best form of gov
ernment known among men because it is
possible under our form of government
to have just as good Il government as the
people deserve. Ours is the best form of
government because it is possible for the
people to make it reflect the best intelii-
genCe. the highest virtue and the broadcast
patriotism of all the people. Let me warn
you against confusing government with
the abuses of government. 1t is the
abuses of government against which we
have the right to complain. There are
some who would silence every criticism of
existing law. There are those who would
denounce every one who advocates 4
change as 4 disturber of the public peace
There are those who would call him u
disturber. one who breeds discomfort
| want to say to you that discomfort lies
at the foundation of all progress. So
long as you are satisfied you never go
forward. 1t is only when you are dissat-
isfied with your conditions that you try to
improve those conditions. Why, my
friends, had our forefathers been satisfied
with English political supremacy we new
er would have had n declaration of indie
pendence There is this difference be-
tween our form of government and the
monarchicai form: If you are discontent-
ed under monarchy, how can you get
relief? You can petition. but your petit
ton may be disregarded. Discomfort
under q monarchy NAV end in despair, or
it may end in revolution. Discomfort un-
der our form of government ends in refor-
nation through the peaceful means of the
ballot The ballot is the means by which
the people of this country must right
every wrong. and if the people have not
the independence, if they have not the
intelligence to right their wrongs at the
balot-box, they haven't the courage to Sc
cure their rights in any other way.
Extols Labor Organizations.
Now, my friends, amcng all the agencies
which for the last few years have been
at work bettering the condition and pro-
tecting the rights of the labOring men of
this country, | believe that the labor
organization stands first among them all.
1t has brought them together where they
cn.,11 annsn1t with anfh nthar yx-hara
they could compare their views, where
they could unite their strength, where
the could make their influence effective,
and the laboring man has his organization
and his own efforts to thank for such
blessings as he has secured. Some have
criticised labor organizations. There are
some who have believed that banking or
ganiZations are joint associations; that
managers of railroads should join associa-
tions; that everybody was entitled to Join
an association except the laboring man.
The laboring mans association has been
the means by which he has protected
himself in his warfare against other or
ganiZatiOn among other people. Now, my
friends, the labor organization has done
much of good. and yet there is good that
society cun do that will add to and sup
plement the work of tho laboring men
themselves.
| want to speak of it here-the princi-
pie of arbitration of differences between
corporate employers and their employees.
That principle has been forced upon the
attention of the American people. l be-
lieve in arbitration. Arbitration is simply
the extension of the idea of the court of
Justice. 1t is merely instituting tribu-
nal before which men may go and settle
their differences. instead of resorting to
violence to- settle those differences You
say the laboring Men are interested in
arbitration. Yes, they have so expressed
themselves. but | want to say to you, my
friends. that society has higher interest
even than the laboring man in the princi-
pie of arbitration Society has a right to
protect itself against these contests be-
tween labor and capital. Society has a
right to say to both employer and en-
Dloye, instead of asserting Il right or 4
claim and defending it by force. you shall,
in the interest of society, submit that to
an impartial tribunal. and let justice be
done by those who can see both sides.
New Condition of Labor.
Nv friends, new conditions make new
laws necessary In the olden times but
one man employed Il few laborers. There
was bond of sympathy between them.
He knew the names of his employees. He
came in contact with them and sympathy
sprung from heart to heart, and this SYM
pathv was an influence that enabled them
to agree upon amlcable terms But times
have changed. Instead of the employer
with II few employees we now have great
corporation with it's thousands or tens of
thousands of employees. 1t is impossible
for the employer to know his men. 1t is
impossible under these conditions that
there should be that personal sympathy
between them which controls their con-
duct toward each other. What must we
do? There is but one thing that we can
do Where that personal acquaintance
has disappeared, and therefore injustice
has crept in. society. with its paramount
interests and overshadowing rights. can
step in and by law supplement that condi-
ton. that relation. and substitute justice
for force in the settlement of those diff
culties.