Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-07-02
TIMELY WARNING.
Dangers That 6eset the American
Republic Set Forth.
LACK OF REVERENCE FOR THE Law

One Of the M0st Tkssateuine. Aceoryling
to President Draper. Of the University -
Ininois+Why Respect for Law L. d.
tegrity Of Our Legislator, from Congress
Down-Ideal Citizen Described.
Ann Arbor. Mich, July "A. s. ORA
per. president Of the University Of Hi.
nois. was orator of the day In the fourth
days commencement exercises at the
University CT Michigan. After speaking
of the good work of the state of Michi-
gan for higher education. and Of the
manifest advantages of liberal training
In q non-ssctarian but not a non-relig-
ious school. ard in a non-partisan but
not ncn-pclitioal atmosphere, President
Draper sale:
I'VE are apparently in the midst Of
one Of those epcch-making transitions
which mark of the progress Of the race
into cycles; and we are in it with the
greatest experiment in purely democrat
ic government that the world has ever
seen. In the midst of all the confusion
Incident to new economic conditions and
another cyclic movement toward a diff
fereEt manner Of life, cur democratic
instituticEs are being put to their sever
est test. There are some very deep
seated and subtle reflections in the
minds CT the American masses Gem
pared with the subject of these reflec-
tions such matters as the tariff, the
coinage, boundary lines between savage
states and the annexation Of the islands
Of the sea sink into irsignificance. for the
inquiry concerns nothing less than the
fundamental rights Of mankind and the
disposition and power Of cur system of
government to enforce them.
The Essence of Good Citizenship.
'"The injuries that merace us arc
deeper than any that can. be inflicted by
disappointment, corruption or the vaga-
ries Of tire unproduotive ones; they go
to the very heart CT the ccmpacts and
understandings which hold the people
together in cur civic state. Reverence
Tor the law is the essence of coed citizen
ship and the security of the state. The
living law, flowing from the basic prin-
ciples of Gcd's justice. ncurished by the
worlds best blood, sanctified by the
worlds deepest sorrows, guided by ex-
perierce and inspired by hope. always
supporting the weak ard always oppos-
ing the strong, adapting itself to con-
tinually changing conditions. as flexible
as life and as certain as the infinite
truth. Is the holy life current CT a self
governing state. The living law inter-
preted with slow wisdom ard applied
with uniformity and solemnity, Is at
once the security and the inspiration Of
good citizenship.
Respect for Law Breaking Down.
And respect for the law is breaking
Gown. 1t is breaking down because leg
islafive action is governed by caprice
and unworthy combinations and attend
ed by tumult and uproar. 1t Is break
ing down because the enactments are
SO numerous and so involved that few
can comprehend them. 1t is breaking
down because the laws are not evenly
and speedily administered The feeling
Is coming to be common that the law is
on sale; that any one with keenness and
experience and money can procure the
enactment Of almost any proposition
into law at the hands of the municipal,
county, state and federal legislatures,
and that the interests OF the people are
safer when these bodies are not in ses-
sion; and the feeling is likewise common
| that any one with keenness and money
| can indefinitely delay or entirely over
turn the expressed purpose of the writ
ten law .