Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-06-09
is OUR POLITICS A FAILURE

OF history and sociology, University 0
Kansas, In the Forum, June, 1896, ask
the question: Have promises o
Democracy been fulhlledY His ans
wer between the lines is more than I
n,gative, he says in fact there is mor'
than a suspicion abroad that, whil'
men have prophesled that ours would
prove perfect form Of government
we have been living upon sentiment
and seeing visions, and as the scales
fall from their ewes they observe that
this nation is not saved from the
grinding poverty, the excessive self
ishness, the despotism and corruption
OF the old world.
Prf. Biaekmar shows that selfgoy-
ernment means something more than
going 10 the polls to vote or attending
a primary. He says II means eternal
vigilance; IL means daily watchful-
ness OF men and measures. The prom
ise that the people would take an ln-
terest In their own government II IL
were placed In their own hands has
not been kept. He Is astonIshcd at
the apathy and Indifference of the
voters who even fail to 20 10 the bal
lot-box. Many seem TO think that
self-goyernment Is kind Of perpet-
ual motion machine, that IL will run
itself, IL being only necessary 10 start
u once year or once In two years
aud that II viii run on In the mean
time without any further attention.
But people In some OF the states and
In some OF the larger cities are begin
ming 20 find that 10 make social life
tolerable and existence possible and
% avoid a state OF anarchy there
must be combined and constant
activity OF the best citizens and an
e iucatlon and uplifting OF the masses
OF citizens 10 "A higher conception OF
the duties Of common citizenship.
Blackmar shows that an Unsuitable
thirst for oiiice has sprung up In re-
cent years. The country from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, from Alaska
10 Florida is infested by greedy
band OF ofilce-holders, growing In
numbers and settling down on the
lind like the locusts In Egypt, TO de-
your the products OF the toll of Others
In the name of party loyalty and ser
vice 10 the state.
The reluctance with which men
were drawn from their private busl-
ness 10 the service OF the state In the
earlier years OF the century, has
given way 20 an hundred hungry as-
Dlrants pushing, crowdlng, lighting
for every place IN the gift OF the peo-
Pile. The man who merely goes TO the
polls and votes straight ticket In
next seen standing In line for his turn
at the public crib, and most OF those
who succeed In getting an onice, have
neither the courtesy nor the good will
10 retire, until forcibly elected. THIS
Is the dark picture Prof. Blackmar
paints, aud well does he describe IL as
Democracy run mad,
What Is Prof Blackmar's remedyS
He admits that the government has
'een alienated from the people, and
hat Il has gone into the hands OF
lemagogness aud oftlce-seekers. In
'onclndlng his article, .he says there
= way 10 again bring our govern
nent into vital touch with the peo. !
PIE. What Is his wayY lie says the
way begins with increased popular in-
crest IN the caucus the primary, the |
'lection, "and the service throughout
heir term Of the officers chosen" In
10 other way can the voice OF the peo-
'le be heard "rhe safety and reform
4 all government rests In the power
4 local units" lie attributes the
VII condition Of affairs Go the care.
essneSs OF the voter and the SELFISH
less OF the ofiice-holder.
The promises OF Democracy have
'ot been fulfilled, Ms Prof. Hlaekmar
aroluntariN admits. He does not
late a remedy IN which his heart has
ny hope. Closer attention TO the
luous has been recommended for the
80 twenty years. II Is not a remedy.
Il asklne4fha unsklfle.l xoiAr A., an.