The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-06-25

kinley's tariff was on the statute book.
Since Jackson first created the spoils-
man reform has been promised yet now
when almost seven decades have passed
the disease is just being cured. This
vagueness of purpose weakens our for
eign policy, corrupts our legislation and
dWarfs our people.
Opinions, however, do crystalline ut last
and if Il decision reached were always
in the line of public justice and govern
mental progress, we could pass over the
slowly shifting panorama of incongruent
opinions But democraces err as other
governments and the second fundamental
weakness of a democracy is its increased
liability to err Economic questions of
great intrcacy involving tedious, honest
study. which in other governments are
considered by the statesmen are decided
here by the people. Can the people al
ways decide correctly such intricate
questions? Development has shown
that even the founders of our govern
ment made many mistakes; yet with in
creasing difficulties in public questions
the average citizen of today is far less
versed in governmental affairs than they.
The people. absorbed in wealth getting,
allow their liberties to be usurped by
demagogues and the ignorant immigrants
have overrun the nation and polluted the
channels through which free discussion
must flow. But more than all else, our
wrong attitude to the central govern
ment is responsible for our jaundiced
views on many matters. Since the time
when pure statesmen argued that our
government had n great and enduring
destiny to fulfill and since Mill showed
that that state was the nearest to per-
lection which inculcated in it's citizens
the highest moral virtues, II new theory
has sprung up. In spite of the wrang-
lings of century for local sef-govern-
ment, paternalsm has honeycombed the
minds of the people with its insidious
suggestion, and the citizen, instead of
earning his bread by the sweat of his
face, sits darksome in the market place
begging his country for sub-treasury and
fiat money. These views were stressed
by President Cleveland in his recent mes
sage vetoing the river and harbor appro-
pration. He said: II believe no great
er danger confronts us as n nation than
the unhappy decadence among our pco-
pie of Il genuine and trusting love and
affection for our government as the en-
bodiment of the highest and best aspra-
tions of humanity-and not as giver of
gifts" This unfortunate attitude keeps
good men out of public life, who VIII not
join in the common cry for gifts from the
state. Not to beg for pensions shelves
the politician in the north; to oppose. a
tariff kills him in New England and to
stand for firm and stable currency bids
fair to be his guillotine in the south.
This is not an exaggerated statement of
the difficulties in the path of government
by public opinion; but it is perhaps ad-
visable to see how public. opinion works.
All admit that public opinion is sovereign,
l,,t ,,,l,t 10, pnlli. npininn1 How is If
created? Is it vague sentiment or a
concrete entity? Bryce traces its growth
very clearly and | adopt mis- suggestion.
A man reads in morning paper that
Mckinley is to be nominated for the
presidency by the Republican party. This
intelligence pleases him or arouscs in his
mind Il feeling of displeasurc, strong or
weak, as the case may be. He has q
vague impression that it will have good
or bad effect upon his interest He
does not reason. His views are formed
on the spur of the moment lie turns
to the leading article in the paper on the
subject and his impressions are strength
cned or dissipated. He goes down on
the car with friends and exchanges views
with them. his opinion becoming more
definite. When the evening paper APP
pears it is more positive in its forecast,
anu p'loi' INV p"n! man ""oNr ~ "
adopts the views OF his paper. ms en-
ploye consciously or uhcohscously ieails
to his views ana the papers nave dic-
tated what pubic opinion sEall pc. IN
turn, the leading papers usually are
edited by, and reflect the views OF, party
leaders. These, views may or may not
be clarified in the filter of scientific in
vcstigation. They may or may not be
tlnged with personal prejudice. TOO ire
quentiy they are, AT all events, now
ever, the politicians dominate public
opinion through the newspapers.
Fellow students, how can sucn gov
eminent long endure, unless we can re-
turn to the falthfulness and honesty OF
the fathers! How can the ship OF state
have no intelligent. courageous pilots /!
Does not such government need nobler,
Drawer, more intelligent and experienced
statesman than any other! Yet we do
not have such leaders. The character of
the ordinary politician is a reprOach upon
our government Weak and unprin-
cipled, he straddles every issue in which
the people are concerned He busters
about trihes and carefully mimics Il
lower intelligence. From the highest to
the lowest there exists no purer ideal
than expediency, no aim but office.
Neither are the parties to be commended.
Instead of voicng the opinions of their
best minds they voice no opinion at all.
Instead of campaigns of principle we have
campaigns of place-hunting and lingo.