The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-06-25
THE HIGHER CITIZENSHIP

Is the same Oy Wn1cn GOQ Q1mSeu gov
erns the universe. Its Office is to raise
the fallen, restrain the violent, and
punish the aggressor. Its ear is ever
bent to hear alike the complaint of the
rich or poor. While justice sits at
the trial and settlement of all Difficult
ties between man and man. Its sub
iects are true, brave, loyal AMI pat
riotic. Next to God, their first
thoughts and most earnest eff orts are
for their country.
Our government is not perfect in
theory, much less in practice. But ii
is good, strong and glorious enough
to inspire loftier patriotism in the
hearts of its people than that of any
other nation. Conceived at a time
when tyranny and oppression were
the potent factors in the government
of nations, it sought to rectify the
weaknesses, blunders and failures of
the older constitutions and to estab-
lish a commonwealth of justice: of
equality: of liberty.
In it there should be no distinction
OF class or caste; no titles: no cruel
aristocracy. The people should be
supreme. Has this experiment been
successful? Are the masses in full
enjoyment of their rights: Are all
men equal?
For several years past a fear has
gradually arisen that the trusts, COM
bines and monopolies are usurping
the rights of the people: that the poor
are fast becoming the slaves of the
rich. That capital is obtaining so
strong and firm foothold upon our
institutions as to eventually brush out
the life of the free government and
convert it into a species of close cor
poration. True, the monopolies are
becoming more and more numerous:
corruption and bribery in politics
more frequent. But have not the peo-
pie a remedy? Do they not yet possess
that most sacred inheritance-the
American ballot?
Might we inquire, is not the abuse
of this privilege that which has
brought about this condition of af-
fairs? Are not the people themselves
deficient? For if there be one nation
on earch more than another, whose in
stitutions must draw their life blood
from the individual purity of its citi-
hot IN, +lic-
country, where public sentiment is the
a absolute lever that moves the political
world. the purity OF the people IS the
rock of political safety. So our hope
must lie in the moral character and
patri otic earnestness of the voters.
We might divide the mass of Amer
lean voters into four distinct classes.
In the first class we will pla e
those who are active partici-
pants in public affairs: who render
public service rather from sense of
duty and love OF country, than from
any mercinary or selfish motives.
Though justly deserving of political
we find but few of this class
occupying the prominent positions in
the gift of the people.
To the second class belong men of
opposite tendencies. They either have
never had the real meaning and dig
nifty Of voting clearly and forcibly i'm
pressed upon them, or they are extre
mely careless of their civic duties.
They are extremely partisan and so
are an easy prey for the political
sharpers.
We will classify thirdly the igno-
rant foreign element in our land. The
problem has become a
perplexing one. a glance at the i'm
statistics shows a noticeable
decrease in the number of immigrants
from the more intelligent nations of
the old world. namely: Germany.
France, England and Sweden. and an
enormous increase from the poorer
aud more despotic countries. that is.
Italy, Austria, Russia and Poland.
The most critical test. in determining
the political effect of this immig grafton
is the character of the people whom we
are admitting to citizenship and their
previous political training in their
native land. Is it not true that from
the long centuries of despotism in
those countries which now furnish more
than one-haf the immigrants to Am
erica, there can be little knowledge of
the republican form OF government and
little inherent aptitude or capacity for
The processes bv
which foreigners may obtain the right
of franchise are mach too lenient. In
many Of the states of the union, our
own commonwealth among them, the
declaration Of the intention to become
a citizen combined with a short term
of residence is deemed sufficient.
Amid the turmoil and excitement
necessarily attending a change OF resi-
dence and country. no man totally un-
acquainted with our language would
be able 20 give any proper attention. to
political matters in so short time.
the result has been to place many
more tools in the hands OF political
bosses, to render the intelligent admin
istratior of government more difficult.
and to open a wider field for corrup-
ton.
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