The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-02-23
THE DUTY OF GOOD CITIZENS
REV. DIR. SMYTH,S ADDRESS Ar THE
GOOD GOVERNMENp MEETING.


Hypothetical Question Propounded to
the ePublio-Practical VS.. Good Politics
What is Needed TO Perpetuate Our Free
institutions.
Inc Good Government meeting held
In United church last evening under
the auspices of the New Haven Chris
tlan Endeavor societies was addressed
by Rev. DR.. Newman Smyth on the
subject of Good Citizenship" The
address was in part as follows:
Lawyers are sometimes allowed in
court to ask a long Hypothetical ques-
tion, and the witness gives his opinion
upon an assumed state of the case. I
have a supposition to make concerning
possible political condition, and 1
would like to take this occasion to ask
the public what it thinks about it. In
order that I may make my question
purely hypothetical, within the limits
OF good legal precedent, 1 will suppose
that the following condition of practi-
cal politics may exist in some state,
somewhere in this country. And I will
make an hypothesis concerning the fu-
ture rather than a statement concern
ing anything past.
Suppose, then, that some legislature
should be organized with hungry and
vivacious lobby attachment; suppose
that certain gentlemen, who must make
their living from politics, should take
sweet counsel together as to how for
the next two years the management of
the peoples business could best be
farmed out for the benefit of themselves
and their political neighbours; suppose
that they should be firmly convinced
that organization Is necessary for the
party, and therefore they must obtain
control of the central committee Of
their party; suppose that they should
further conclude that the necessity of
party organization required them to
gain control of the town committees in
as many cities and towns as possible
throughout the state; suppose that for
this purpose they should take pains to
see that the right men are quietly cho-
sen as chairmen of the several ward
committees in the cities; suppose that,
with this end in view, they should find
IL convenient " puI lAlC lllctlioSCiliCi1e
of the party interest in some town into
the hands of contractor whose bust
ness interest would keep him on the
right side, so that they could depend
upon him; suppose, moreover, that,
having thus secured the party organi-
zation which is necessary, they should
proceed to put into training their can
didate for governor, who is to be nom
hon oc
peoples choice; suppose that in order
to keep up this necessary party organ
ization they also much come to an un-
derstanding as to who are to be the
peoples candidates for lieutenant gov
ernor, and for senator, and for the
mayors office in several cities; and
suppose that under the same unavoid-
able necessity of party organization 1t
becomes necessary to determine Two
years beforehand how a great many
other minor offices may be divided up;
and suppose further that they cannot
avoid bringing few judicial positions
under the same necessity of their pre-
determining choice; and suppose fur-
ther, while they are so laboring for the
public good, that it is deemed adVlsa-
BILE to hold up, for some reason, II pos
sible, certain gubernatorial appoint
ments, and to give the executive, by a
change in the law, more time for due
consideration; suppose still further
that these gentlemen spare no pains to
teach us that party loyalty is the first
of political virtues, and that they con-
tinue to thrive by our practlclng II TO
their profit; suppose, moreover, That
certain other man, wko is not unob-
serving. should be able to write to-day
a list Of all the candidates who Will be
nominated in popular conventions two
wears hence, and, if all goes we'll, ninety
ner cent. of his predictions will turn
out to be correct; now, then, upon these
suggestions, what do you think George
washington, the father of his country,
would have to say to the people ABOUT
it?
I'VE are not left entirely to a sup
position concerning his answer to thls
assumed state of practical polltlcs'
What he did say in 1883 ON this New
Haven green was that he was the num-
BILE agent of favoring heaven. Perhaps
these gentlemen might say the same
thing of their efforts. At least they
hope that not meddlesome believers in
good government will disturb the raw
oring heavens, and call down fire upon
their schemes. Perhaps they will not
be disturbed; but give an agitator Two
years, and possibly he may make a
noise effectual enough to wake up the
people to see great light.
'sThis hypothetical question, which
have propounded, will serve. our fur
ther purpose might, as the attempt to
answer it will thrown light upon these
two interesting questions; first, why do
practical politics usually succeed, and
why are good politics very apt to fail?
And secondly, what more can impractt-
able citizens, who believe in General
George Washington and favoring heav-
eli, do about it?
I'm answer to the first of these ques-
tions l will name as one reason why
/ practical politics usually get the best of
good politics. The fact that self-inter-
est is always wakeful and active, while
! public interest is usually asleep or gone
on a far journey. Mr.. Bliss of New
York opposed the Greater New York
: charter because in his experience in
politics he had found that the better
/ class of citizens took no interest in the
! politics of New York city. In one in
stance of 115 citizens who signed a petit
ton for a caucus only 10 had interest