Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-01-08


instead of boasting that you are not
willing to contaminate yourself with
politics, just remember what one of the
ancieuts, think Plato, said, that If good
citizens neglect their civil duties they
are punished by being compelled to live
under the rue of worse citizens than
themselves. If people are not willing to
exert themselves to secure good govern
ment, it will be bad government. But
that is only one way. | believe that
public opinion is one of the most potent
things in this country; and public opn-
ion can crush out any abuse, as 1t can
give license to any abuse; and, my
friends, no matter how insignificant you
may think your influence is in politics,
your Influence is not Insignificant in the
formation of public opinion. The news
paper helps to form public opinion, but
it only helps. 1t cannot be relied upon
to do it all, and an intelligent people
will help to correct their newspapers,
just as the newspapers help to correct
the people. All these things join In to
make public opinion; and, my frie nds,
| want you to remember that the public
opinion of your city, and of your state
and of your nation is part of the work
of your hands. If public opinion is such
that mans conduct in Office will have
no effect upon his candidacy for re-elec
ton, you need not complain if your
children grow up to believe it will be
just as we'll to be dishonest as honest.
'@lf you throw your influence in the
formation of public opinion upon the
side of strong, pure public opinion, it
reacts upon you and aids you Ia the
training of your children, and if you re-
fuse, you must not complain If the ideals
you set them have more influence than
the advice that you give them against
those ideals. And | want to touch upon
a question here, my friends, and in so
doing | want to apply it to all parties
without distinction. | want to say TO
you that one of the most pernicious in
fluences that have crept into our politics
not into one party, but into all parties
that have age enough to have abuses
and it does not take party long TO get
old enough to have abuses-One of the
most pernicIOus abuses that we have to
contend with IN modern politics is the
use of money in illegitimate ways in poll
tics. (Applause.) Remember what
say it is not confined to one party. If
it were we might consider ourselves
fortunate; but the communicating in
fluentes of money in politics have reach
/, ed all parties. And, my friends, ! think
| am speaking the truth when tell you
that unless we can crush out the in
fluence of money-the cOrrupting in
tiuence in politics-we have much TO fear
from its continuance among us. If men
spend money to get office, there is a
temptation almost too strong to resist to
: get money back after they are in office
If we tolerate, If we encourage, if we
permit it, it simply means that having
made the securing of Office expensive.
we must permit ourselves to be plumber.
ed to even a greater extent than the
amount spent in securing the election.
MONEY SHOULD NOT ENTER POLITICS.
: II can leave you with no better
thought for your consideration than this
That every citizen who loves his country,
no matter what he may believe on
J political questions, no matter what his
convictions may be on the issues which
make them divided parties, no matter
what his party name or his party his
. tory-there is no better thought that
can leave with you than that every citi-
zen should use his influence to destroy
the use Of money in the politics of this
nation, in order that the public servant
} shall simply offer himself as candidate
leaving his citizens to decide between
him and his opponent, without each
| entering into race with the other to
} see who can most uebauch politics.
, say. my friends, that these questions
which are affected by public influence
are questions which you must take your
part in settling.
IF | have succeeded in leaving with
J YOU the idea that equality must be the
test of all legislation-if have succeed
ed in leaving the idea that every just
: government will protect every citizen il
J the enjoyment of life, liberty and in the
pursuit of happiness if have succeeded
/ in leaving with you the idea that as clt
zens of the greatest nation on earth you
; have duty to perform in making your
l government good and your laws just,
shall have accomplished all that | coulc
expect to accomplish in the course of s
: lecture. If | can leave in the mind OF
him who listens determination TO study
: all public questions-to be able to discus;
5 every issue that arises. and determlna
/ ton, no matter what others may do, nj
] influence will be cast upon which side hC
t believes to be right, will have done al
: that | could hope to accomplish.
r MY friends, we live here, aud not only
g we live here, but our children are to live
t here after we are gone. 1t is short
: sighted policy to attempt to care only
e for ourselves. The Latin poet beauti
7 fully expressed the idea when he SAID
5 we plant trees the fruit of which W.
c never expect to eat. Lincoln expressed
l it in his Gettysburg speech, when h
e said that those who fell on that battle
: field left an unfinished work to thos
| who survived. 1t was an unfinished
work. Every man who dies leaves al
c unfinished work. Every person comnl
t upon the stage of action finds an un
i finished work. We labor here, we d.
4 our part, and we pass away. We hav
n done our duty only when we have ad
c vanced that work as far as within on
!, power.
"Men say that success is necessary
S My friends, success is no measure of tn
: work that one does. The measure of
e mans work is this: Has he done hi
d best? If he has, he has succeeded
e whether he lives to see the fruits of hi
/, work or leaves those fruits to be enIoye
l. by those who come after him. We can sim
D1U folio this UOvarnmaOt which has hpa