The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-11-19

blame him. TO find the beginning or
the end of the wrong in such group
is as difficulties to prove where is the
starting point of circle. If a word
is said about the dangers that must
arise from having purchasable legis-
lators in State Capitols and at Wash
ington, the shoulders are shrugged
and "How can help it?n is said.
-
| have always admired, since | knew
what real manhood was, that old BIZ
bic character Nathan, the prophet.
He cornered Gods anointed, trumped
up Hypothetical story about an eve
lamb, reused the kings ire against
the wOltish ways of the rich man, and
then turned on him like flash, with
anger and menace in his prophetic
face, Thou art the MANI Does it
need wordy trap to catch the ears
and touch the consciences of our Da-
vids? Shall we liken our country to a
citadel besieged by evil, as all good
things are; surrounded by miners and
sappers who underhandedly throw
down its walls in order that license
may march over Liberty and trample
our dear one under foot? Then shall
we tell of some one within the walls
who is seen to crawl to the ramparts
and make signals to the besiegers?
But not alOnr that; at fateful mo-
ment he approaches the gate with a
key in his hand to let death and dis
aster have free course and be satisfied
among us. You Davids, you kinglets,
what shall be done to the traitor? Let
him be manned; let wild horses tear
him asunder, that all the people may
fear to do evil and seek to do good!
1t shall be done, but thou that judg-
est art the man.
#,,#
If you raise only your voice on high
to denounce evil, do you think evil
men fear you and shake in their shoes
any more than they do at capful of
wind? Words and works must go to-
gether; blowing of trumpets and
shoutings shake down no strongholds
in these days; beatings of tom-toms
drive out no diseases. Our political
evils are no skin troubles to be gently
rubbed away with almond-water and
glycerine. They go deeper than that
and down as deep as they go must you
go to purify the national blood. You
good men are neglectful in attending
primaries, consequently your lazy,
worthless neighbOr gets elected to
conventions; those conventions are
necessarily no better than the mater
ial that constitutes them; your indO-
lence has sent there ''workable'' men,
men amenable to 1.-The machine that
you howl against but for which you
are to blame; the conventions make
nominations that your enervating po
litical pride forces you to vote for just
ito be regular those elected ones
conceived in the selfish iniquity of low
grade primaries and brought forth in
the fullness of time as honorable in
legislatures are no more fit to repre-
sent you than a wolf to pose as the
friend of a lot of sheep.
~
In vague kind of a way we seem
to think of government as something
| fixed and perpetual like law of ma
ture. No greater or more fatal mis-
take regarding it can find Judgment
| in our minds. Brooks run on forever,
poet tells us; but governments do not.
They are like some delicately consti-
| tuted child that needs the loving care
of wise friends; if that care is with
held the child perishes. Note that,
and make your own personal deduc-
| tiOn and resolution.
~
The mere fact that things may run
along smoothly until we are laid to
rest is no real comfort to q real pa
triot Our forefathers planned wisely
| and well for us; we must work willing
ly and self-forgettingly for those who
are to come after us, otherwise is our