The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-19
ESfra(is from Chicago RlderRans
Sermon on practical Politics,

the fittest those with the most dollars.
We have set up a standard OF excellence
that may be begged. borrowed or stolen.
Yes, one that may he contracted, expanded
or wiped out OF existence, ana IN passing
1t might be remarked that the free coin
age idea can hardly be called a reform NJ
the standard, for we have no reason 10 be-
lleve that those with the most half dollars
will be any litter.
The outlook is dark enough, but It Is the
darkness before the dawn. Beneath all
the sins of wealth and the besettins crime
of ignorance there is still character, thank
God, yes, and sense in the American peo-
pie. They are awakening to their posi-
ton and they will rise to the emergency.
We must not wait for a:i impersonu some
thing to do the work. We have been ne
glcctful; we. the greedy; We, the ignorant.
Here and now is our opportunity; our
duty is before us: not here, but wherever
We may be; not now. but every day. We
must work. We must learn, and our ma
tion will live. Let us shatter the stupid
dictum of those who, in the weakness OF
inanition. despair of popular government.
Representative government means con-
stant watchfulness on the part of the gov
erned. There Is nothing vicarious abe
ton asked as the historic ''ls l!fy worth
living?' it Is its correlative. rs repre-
sentative government a failure?' Repre-
sentative government cannot be u failure:
IL lS the ultimate truth OF men = NUT ual
relations. 1t may be overthrown and the
human race set back for centuries. but as
the cloud tends to the sea, so must men
return asin to self-government. There Is
no other solution.
In each case the competent, who have
allowed our country to reach its present
danger point, have evaded their RESPONSE
ss sSz onS Sh 1
There is large. impractical forum build
ed for them somewhere in the clouds,
where men may Kick against reflections
feet, no effect upon the thorns. The man
who sneers at practical politics iS Great
Ing the condition which his dainty exist
ence shuns. '-.
I have tried to put before you picture
of the present situation. 1t could be moth
Ing but rough sketch. bare outline.
The ineXcusable greed of wealth. the in
discriminating envy of noverty. COrrup-
ton in Office. corruption In elections. cor
ruption in nominations. STUPID neglect on
the part of the competent, bitter Ignorance
of the incompetent. The lying appeals Of
intellieence. The Unsuitable appetite of the
politician.
Whether We look at the broad field Of
finance, where stock-watering and merc-
less trickery prevail or the narrower life.
where the farmer and the country buyer
play hide and seek with the scales, we
have no cause TO congratulate ourselves
upon our honesty as people: but oirr'
private morals are still pure and holy In
comparison with our civic life that Is an
ulcer steadily eating into the nations
stamina. 1t must be burned out by the
fire of unscltish effort.
Most of us have scarcely given our gov
ernment thought between elections. 1t
is supposedly instituted for all of us, as
directed by the best of Us but has become
largely the rule of the purchasabe among
us for the benefit of the purchasers, or an
indiscrimipatng hodge -podge OF soms.
times weli-meaning ignranc. All that We
have accomplished in material way Is
threatened by neglect of this one thing
needful.
We have had one standard of morals
for our churches and charities, another
for our business dealings. while our mu-
tual relations, through the sacred forms
of law. have been forced to do without any
system of morals at all. Our government
is not representative Of the average NOR
ality, though it doubtless is what we de-
serve.
We cannot reconstruct the human race,
but we can drag political life UP to our
average level: If we do not 1t will level
things by dragging us down.