The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-08

always been found among the richer classes
those who We're filled with the spirit Of
philanthropy; there have always been found
among them, those who we're willing to
spend their lives in the uplifting of their
fellows; but am speaking of the rule that
reforms do not come from, and are not sup
ported by, those who consider themselves
lifted above the common people CA voice
That's right.') Nor do ! mean that you
have never found among the common peo-
pie those who would betray their fellows.
You have found everywhere-it is one Of the
unfortunate things that stands out upon
every page of history-that the character of
Judas is not confined to any class of society.
He Is found everywhere and in all ages.
(Applause) I simply mean to say this
been found those who would betray their
brethren and sell them into bondage, II they
could, but yet in spite Of this, the common
people have been the great impelling force
that has lifted civilization from generation
to generation up to higher ground. zap
plause.)
There are three forms of government best
known among men. There is the monarchy
where king rules by right divine; there IS
the aristocracy, where few control, and
there Is the Democracy. which means the
rule of the people themselves. Why is 1t
that the strength of Democracy do not
use 1t but in its broader sense-why is 1T that
the strength of the Democracy has always
been found among the common people? Why?
Why, it is simple enough. II man has a
high position or great wealth, he may be
able to stand and keep on the good side OF
the king. If he has great influence, he may
be one of the ruling classes in an aristoc-
racy But you are not willing to leave any
form Of government to your children, ex-
cept a Democracy, in which each citizen is
protected in the enjoyment OF life and I'D
erty and the pursuit of happiness, ZAP
plause) The great common people peheve
in a Democratic form of government be-
cause 1t is only in a Democratic form. OF
government that they are able to protect
their rights and advance their interests SO
far as government can advance human IN
terest.
Let me dwell for moment upon the object
of government. In this land 1t Is our BOAST
that our government derives its just powers
from the consent of the governed. What KIND
of government will people consent 10 when
they are free to consent? There is one
kind Of government above all other KINGS
they love Ia voice "Bryan's government;
applause); a government which knows no
favoritism, a government where every cltl-
zen stands on the same plane, ana Wnere
the government treats them all alike WITH
out regard to position In society or even
without regard to wealth; a government
which gives equal rights to all, Dut conierS
special privileges upon none. CA voice Good
boy") That is the kind OF government Cnat
appeals to the affections OF the common peo-
pie. a.a.oa 4,
government The first is that in the enact
Jnent of legislation you shall be caTelui 10
give no advantage to one person over otbar
words it is the duty of government TO avoid
acts of affirmative injustice; but that is only
part Of the business OF government. 1enei-
son has stated the other half OF 1t. He says
that government must restrain men from IN
juring one another. That Is one OF the I'M
portant duties of government, to restrain men
from injuring one another, and the govern
ment that fails to restrain the strongest arm
that can be lifted from injuring the weakest
citizen in all the land is a government which
fails to do its whole duty. (Applause.)
I was passing through Iowa some months
ago and | got an idea from some hogs.
Laughter) An idea is the most Important
thing that person can get into MS neao' ana
we gather our ideas from every source AS
was riding along, / noticed these hogs root
ing in a field, and they were tearing up the
ground, and the first thought. that came 70
me was that they were destroying good deal
of property, and that carried me back to the
time when, as boy, l lived upon farm,
and l remembered that when we had hogs,
we used to put rings in the noses or the
hogs and then the thought came to me:
"Why did we do it?'' Not to keep the hogs
from getting fat. We we're more interested In
their getting fat than they were Naughter.)
The sooner they got fat the sooner we killed
them the longer they were in getting rat
the longer they lived. But why were the
rings put in the noses OF those hogsf SO
not destroy more property than they were
worth. daughter and applause) And as 1
thought Of that, this thought came to me,
that one OF the
DUTIES OF GOVERNMENT,
one Of the important duties Of government,
Is the putting rings in the noses OF hogs
(Applause.l
a reflection on your neighbor. We are all
hoggish. We are all selfish. my friends. and
we must not apply this lesson simply to
somebody else If you tell me that you are
not selfish, I can prove by your neighbor that
you are (Applause.) And II your neighbor
denies that he is selfish, I can prove by you
that he is. (Applause) We are all selfish.
The Creator did not make any class of people
who were entirely unselfish, but have faith
in our form of government, because be-
lieve that the people in their better mo-
ments will adopt laws which restrain them
selves in hours Of temptation, in order that
their neighbors may also be restrained In
hours Of temptation. Npplause9 And when
l say that of the duties of government
is to put rings in the noses Of hogs, l simply
mean this: That society Is interested in hav
ing every citizen become independent, become
self-supporting; society is interested in hay
ing every citizen secure enough of this
worlds goods, not only to supply his own
wants, but to educate his children and leave
him something for the declining days. But
while society is interested in this, society Is
also interested in having laws that will pre-
vent him destroying more than he is worth
while he is securing his own independence.
(Applause.) Our government is the best known
among men. Our government Is the best
form of government known among men; not
because every law is good not because we
have upon the statute book every law needed
to protect each citizen in the enjoyment Of
his rights. Our government is the best form
of government known among men, because
1t is possible, under our form Of government,
to have just good a government the
people deserve. Ours is the best form of gov
ernment because it is possible for the people
to make it reflect the best intelligence, the
highest virtue and the broadest patriotism
of all the people.
Let me warn you against confusing govern
ment with the abuses Of government. An
drew Jackson said that there were no neces-
sary evils in government; that Its evils
existed only in its abuses. He was right my
ernment and no man who understands the
advantage of government will ever raise his
voice hand against government itself. 1t
is the abuse of government against which
have the right to complain. There are
some who would silence criticism of exist
every one who advocates change as a dis
turber Of the public peace There are those
who would call him a disturber; one who
breeds discontenet. / want to say to you that
discomfort lies at the foundation of all pro-
gress. (Applause.) So long you are salts
fed, you never go forward. 1t is only when
you are dissatisfied with your conditions that
my friends. had our forefathers been satisfied
with English political supremacy, we never
would hav had Declaration of Independ-
ence. (Applause.) They were not content
with the conditions under which they lived,
and they put that expression in the form of
declaration of independence, and they MAIN
tanned that declaration with their blood and
it gives US this form of government.
There is this difference between our form
of government and the monarchial form: II
you are discontented under a monachy how
can you get relief? You can petition, but
your petition may be disregarded. Discon-
tent under a monarchy may end In despair
Iii