The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-04-15
m w WksnS v y M.InuoS In THESE DAYS when men run poiticcs nj a
II (kUENNk MANllON nmnc mud slEnL aud lnl inl..4uL Aa

''~X business M selfish and local interest shape
the legislation of the country, such sentiment, as are expressed in the following,
which we take from the editorial column of Popular Science Monthly arr worthy
Of The most thoughtful consideration.
III is one of the most serious evils of the methods of political discussion cr
rent among II that petty, local and temporary considerations are given prdomi-
nance and gnvcr broader views looking to the general public welfare and ut.
mate results, are very little regarded.
I'VE havea government according to the well worn phrase of the people,
for the people, by the people; hut what the people do not always see is that the
government which they actually call into being is nota government of the people
asa whole for the people IS whole, and by the people Is a whole. but govern
ment in which rival interests, class and sectional more or less check, thwart
haggle with, and corrupt one another. and in which the real interests of the com
system is how to get great questions adequately discussed Matters Of minor i'm
lorance, particularly such as may become the subject of a deal" can always
concerned our Legislative bodies show only too plainly that these arenotthe mat
tiers they care to deal with The truth is they are not speaking broadly. the mat
IN choosing it's representative, to local and special interests not to those of the
The article which we puhMs, in this number from or valued contributor,
the Hon David A. Wells entitled How can the Federal Government best raise its
thns Of public policy should be approached and treated. " """ s"" 4"S
.,, Mr. Wells indicates what might be done if. our statesmen would only deal
pejudiccd ensendcrei by partisan nyahies and squbbcs, and solely with a view
to the public good He points ont that some Of his suggestions would involve
ps%sS "' S"rs : uo saia" to p Dc with i hs' p"Ris s S%' except &c %a tx sM Vt srts and ia "s. tasss
Il i sn "PT t ~S II ss SO f IN ssp NJ s% Sa1 patriotism nU ss%1t Of +, congress 1sr + and nd Of y The sso ssGantTy "a a
cn.aon TO this end we cite his article a an example Of earnest and thoughtful
cnces ad. too seldom heard in orr legislative bodies "" r'"'" ~"
mon n NJ Sue Wsms q p nSs,s an and w free e,I trade ri is very ,s slightly tI t. a al, Touched
opinion. this great nation can never be right with itself or with the world so long
!. the protection sentiment rules the Thought of the people To say that the way
even when offered 70 us at the most advantageous prices is m its face al ab
you get al article that is Of more value to you than the thing You part With, " s"d
how a nation car benefit itself by greatly restricting the number of its profitable
this the bitterness Of feeling toward fa pmis' nations mm and t the " onsnrsna u,i hsd to
81 mind which the protective system breeds; add to II also the political demorl
ncreats between the party in power and the privileged interests and the conciu
son will be inevitable that the system in question al not be permanent policy
There are other questions pressing fcrw ,d in our national affairs which need
views looking 70 the future rather than being confined to selfish interest. AN and tn
s sIssrssnsasi h # Re- Esss m ,, wn mt S. m mSh ns aid o., . .s y. lily. q NJ weiss
commended to all whose work IL may be to t3al with these subjects