Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-03-11
An ideal Government.


people able men, such as fear God, men
of truth, hating covetousness, to be
rulers. Elk xviii, II.
These words are believed by many
to be inspired, and that partial obe-
dieuce, under the Judges, to their
spirit saved the Jews as free people
against surrounding barbarans for 43O
years. But whether divine or human
they state, u correct conception Of pure
government, whenever or wherever civ
ilization approaches an ideal form.
They have been true in all past ages,
as could be easily shown by the raise
or fall of each republic along the
stream of Time, and they will remain
true in all future ages, for Truth is
the only thing that never dies" They
are true, not in one specification only
but in all four administrative quail
ties of ideal government-ability in
rulers, also reverence, also veracity,
also anti.covetousness, which fairly
interpreted means "a disposition to
pro note the common good without re-
ference to the personal interests of any
one man or class of men," Yet as, un-
der "the existing gold standard of to-
day, covetousness enthroned in power
here is evidently the main danger to
our free institutions, and was admit
teddy the chief cause of destruction to
those before us, the fatal disease of
every dead republic. We will briefly
classify few only of the national evils
that multiply among us from this pre-
valent form of personal selfishness,
commonly called greed. Our purpose
is to show that we are far from an
ideal government at present.
Its effect on our social life are bad.
Its financial effects on every branch
of honest industry are monstrous.
Its effects are very bad-which
makes QUE task the harder.
Its religious effects are also bad.
For, as Christ Himself before His SER
mon on the Mount, by miracle with
the loaves and fishes, appeased the
hunger of the multitude, thus showing
real sympathy for the poor; SO form
of religion, that upholds covetousness
in office and fatters the rich, will at
tract or convert the masses to human
ity. 1t is as cold as the marble in a
graveyard and more repulsive.
Its effects on ethical culture, the fine
arts, works of taste, the drama, opera
and beauty of every phase, are so
blighting that painting, music and
poetry, song, merriment and joy stand
clothed with sackcloth, as in the pres
ence of death.
But what concerns us most deeply
are its political effects, which, by coer-
cion and venal frauds. unless quickly
checked, will soon chain and cruelty
the spirit of freedom. To quell the
raising tide of popular discomfort, a
product of plutocracy, covetOusness
must call, for a stronger govern
ment-force, not reason-which logi-
cally leads to monarchy in America.
History repeats itself" Hence in
closing application let us not forget
the fute, that may be ours, of Isreal.
Repudiating, in Samuel, as we did in
Mr.. Bryan, the essential qualities of
pure government, because corrupt at
heart, they first clamOred for a king
like neighboring idolators, then they
had two kings over warning parties,
and all went later into hopeless cap
tivity. Isreal as nation died-burnt
to ashes by selfish fires, which ate out
its republican spirit, and all right
ideals of true civilization. Over the
grave of that chosen people Is left one
good thing only. a monumental stone
for the salvation of future nations.
Upon it is terrific epitaph of warning
to patriots in every age, that gets
palmer as the centuries roll-"Died of
ldolatry, the love of mammon instead
of God"
Here in this republic now where the
spirit of 1916 lies dead as Sodom,
though as we trust for a few years
only, nearly every member of the new
cabinet is counted millionaire. Gold
has come to be prerequisite or step.
stone to every high Office, also some
low ones. But if our new Order pre-
walls, the Patriots of America, based
on humanity-loYe of men, not gold-as
doubtless it must, our motto will be in
non-partisan and non-secretarian
spirit. CHOOSE out of all the people
able men, such as fear God; men of
truth, hating covetousness, to be
rulers" YoX POPUM
Marshall, Mo-