Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-03-15

RhhSIDENI ". w. bOW KUN.
are here for mutual benefit and for in
terchange of congratulations as we'll as
criticisms. can but stop to congratulate
the press of Wisconsin on the high plane
it occupies in newspaper ethics and jour-
naliStic amenities.
a quarter Of century of editorial work
in Wisconsin prompts me to claim that
the press of no state stands higher in it's
moral tone, in it's intelligent treatment of
public questions or in the fair and digni-
fed character of it's utteranceS There is
Il regard for the sanctity of the home, the
good name of individuals and the honor of
society that should ever be maintained and
never ruthlessy ignored. The press Of
exalted position it occupies in the arena
of clean and unpolluted Journalism. |
know of no newspaper in the state that
could not with propriety be read aloud
family. This is the true test Of the mod
er9 family newspaper, and by that stand
character of our publications.
Independence is by no means the least
conspicuous trait of the Wisconsin press
The past year has served to more than
ever demonstrate the growing tendency of
independent journalism. The newspaper is
growing less and less the organ of party,
ciples the champion of right as it sees
it, and the opponent of the wrong as it
knows it. This healthful development is
destined to be of more service to COM
munities and of more advantage to the
press than some of us have been led to
believe in the past: A new era is dawn
ing upon the possibilities of the newspaper
This is an age of PHILOSOPHERS, of economic
-agltatlonS and of inquiry into established
systems. This nation has passed through
the. struggle for independence and the
traits of territorial salvation. 1t is now
beginning to be confronted by the great
questions of industrial and governmental
systems. 1t has passed the stages prelim
mary to it's existence, and now faces the
problems of its perpetuity: Unity of pur
pose ana common instinct born OF patriot
ism and nourished by unfolding resources
have been succeeded by wide diversity of
interests, keen political rivalrieS and bit
ter industrial and social animosities These
are destined to put to the severest test
our governmental systems and the self
control of the people. beside such prob
lens which confront u.s. mere craftsmanship
sinks into insignificance.
Momentous consequences hang upon the
thread of future events The time has
come when the eXigencies demand that the
press of the nation shall be actuated by
principles instead of being controlled by
political organizations. 1t will need the
and the most patriotic demonstration of
loyalty and unselfshness to guide this ma
ton through the dangers that beset it.
a great responsibility to bear in the is
sues which are destined to distract the
people of this country We are witnessing
country which in some respects is on a
par with the cruSades of the Middle ages
Fhe crusades of old were inspired by
wild torrent of misdrected religious zeal
The present crusade is prompted by Il wild
unlOosening of vague theories and economic
Authorizations.
period Of economic CESSATION. The time
has come in the development of our peo-
pie as a nation and as an Industrial unit
when the waste of speculation must give
way to the economy of necessity. Political,
social and Industrial systems that have
grown up in the rushing current of migra-
al
be subjected to the closest test of correct
economic principles Natural conditions
are forcing. upon an unwilling people new
problems of life. Whereas, heretofore the
development of the resources of vast re-
gions has smothered all Difference to eco
nomic laws. the time has now come when
learned AS might well be expected when
Such problems are thrust upon a heterogen-
eous population multitude of yagaries
and crude philosophers and partially d-
Sested theories are sure to enter into the |
agitation of public questions. The former
absence of restriction is succeeded by a
mad rush to regulate all economic relations
by law. The people are looking to statutes
TO take the place Of individual efforts, and
to reverse conditions that are but the re-
suit Of natural laws which we have neglect
ed to properly analyze and do not suf-
dciently comprehend.
Popular denunciation of class legislation
in the past has been succeeded by a popu-
lar craze for class legislation in the pres
emit. Glasses are imbued with the feeling
GDaB present cOUulllOuS are the result OF
class advantages artiicially created The
result is that each class is looking for ar
tificiaI interference in its behalf and de-
mpndag Leg? & d aea IT, its n,1 fagG
lost sight of in the struggle of class against
class for advantages by statutory legisla
ton. People are filed with the hallucina-
ton that law is the panacea for all indus
trial and social ills which only conformity
to correct economic principles can cure.
We are resortng to surface irritation to
dnnn-laid functional disorder Vn
have been blind to natural laws, and now
as biindly seek to control natural LAWS
have confounded the police powers of the
state with the immutable DEGREES of the
Almighty We have confused the liberties
of ali with the liberty of one to restrain
The liberties of the other The efforts of
the Middle ages to have the state control
inc religious conscenceS of the people find
their counterpart in the present endeayors
to place the state III control OF the indus
trial and social consciences Of the people.
The same species OF fanaticlsm now exists
with regard to worldly Things that then
existed in regard to ecclesiastical things.
But as civilization outgreW the fanati-
ctsm of the church in the Middle centuries,
the evolution of economies is destined to
OUtgrow the fanaticism i'll secular matters
in the present age. 1t viii need the fortl-
Jude and patience of the thoughtful 70
facilitate a correct solution OF the PROB
lens that are crOWding upon us. No great
or necessity will arise in the corfeGt so
luton of these problems than an lntelHgeht
that this necessity will be fully supplled
Thcre is Il duty and a responsibility before
the press OF Wisconsin which calls for the
Calincst Judgment, the closest study ana
the Industrious patience OF us all. 1t VIII
require IN independence and a freedom
from purely partisan considerations that hat
NAV tax our past procliYities. But the
experiences of the last campaign navy
br6adened the way and cleared the path
to a more exalted standard of independent
Journalism Whatever may have oech the
Effect upon party politics the effect was
most saiutary in Strengthening the indie
neDdent spirit of the press. For this much