The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-12-08
some GREAT QUESTIONS.
GREAT TEST UPON us.
Present Day Thoughts.
BY G. Grosvenor Dave.
Written for The Commonwealth

Written for The Commonwealth
A National testing.-As high az
heaven 10 above the earth, 20 high
above party politics, will this winters
questions be. You and I believe in
parties most definitely, but the time in
tho history of our country is actually
here, when we shall be forced to take
non-partisan views of some great ques-
tions. If we refuse to be non-partisan
it will be because we are blind to the
position of Times shadow over the
dial OF our history. It is one OF our
highnoons, when the light inclines
neither to one side nor to the other
but clear cut line divides the pre-
paratory half OF the days duty from
the half that remains to be done.
4 ***
Fifty to one hundred years will be
needed to demonstrate the wisdom or
folly of our Congressional acts in the
weeks that remain of the fateful year of
'98. If we, through our representa-
tives, insist on discussing our colonial
questions in partisan fashion, it will
mean disagreements and heated argu-
ments. The more the counsellors, the
greater the confusion, it personal ana
party triumph is the thing that is
sought after. 1t The Congressional
Record comes day by day to show that
our lawmakers are blind and deaf to
national history and awake only to
party advantage, some of US will have
to hide our heads in very shame.
-.
OF course, you are personally in a
hurry. You have a thousand cares on
yonr mind and a Thousand things to
do; and you are glad to delegate some
things to others. You practically say
to your minister, ~ have no time for
thinking out theology; you do it and
give me the results" You say to your
physlclan, 81 am in too much OF a
hurry to take care of myself you keep
me WE'LL" You say to your political
representative "act for me, think for
me, make laws for me; shall be con-
tent" But declare to you that we
cannot thus shift along responsibility.
II we do, it is because we have no sense
of proportion and esteem a nickePs
worth of gain above things whose value
is inestimable.
-
Look squarely at the issues before us
and then determine that If a letter
from you will hold a Congressman
straight, it shall be written 1t word
from you can broaden the horizon of
your local editor it shall be spoken ; if
in any way an opportunity shall come
to you to shape our national destiny
for good, it shall be utilized. There
will be no money In all of this, but 1t
will glye you the supreme satisfaction
that as a unit of our government, in
your sphere, you have exercised your
power to the full.
-
What confronts us7 The necessity
of deciding on a national policy to-
wards dependent millions and decid-
ing so definitely on what that policy
shall be that it shall not swerve hairs
breadth through the changing admins
trations of the future. If it proves to
be broad, comprehensive craftsmanship
that the generations to follow will
praise, the glory of it will be equally
divided between the parties, and '9S
be thrice noteable-a year in which a
generous impulse forced us to war, a
year in which we became world pow
or, a year in which men were broad
minded enough to esteem national pol
icy aboye narrow party.
Y ~
Involved in that national policy are
these questions and others:
The right to vote, nationally.-Can
we trust voting power to Porto Ricans
Hawaiians, Fllipinos? If we cannot
now so confide in the wisdom Of any
or AL of these, when and under what
conditions shall this foundation prin
cipie of our government be finally and
firmly established among them?
dare to predict that more than hall
century will elapse before those whit
take our tasks will be able to reach ths
end of this question and, let ue hope
approve our wisdom.
The right to vote, locally-Shail TIT
local Offices be filled from Washington
or by the choice of the people affected
If from Washington, shall polltica
fealty have anything to do with tn