Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-07-01
The Reformer-Part 4.


d. d., Editor.
And praise is due in place of punishment
Where virtue causes the first impulse.
-COraeille.
This paper is not an essay on govern
ment, scarcely touching, technically, upon
its sphere. 1t is assumed that the best Of
men yield to a benevolent instinct or in.
spiration in desirin5 for themselves and
countrymen a system best calculated to
procure a condition of security, useful ness
and happiness. AS to the best form OF gov
ment, theories are yet in dispute, and prac
tice correspondingly diversified. Highest in
telligence under monarchlcal forms, dream
ing OF almost paradisacal conditions as ex'
isting in republics, has, after season of ex-
perience, turned with loalhing from the last
10 find lelief in the former. A part of this
instability of judgment is no doubt due to
the restlessness of spirit which covets per
lection but never finds 1t. "Man never is,
but always to be, blest" But with conse
Grated motives, it must always be praise
worthy In men to labor for the suppression
OF evil facts and tendencies and unite In the
effort TO realize the best administration pos
sble to the epoch in which they act. There
is not the least danger that the editor, when
treating OF good government, as the thing to
be desired and striven for, shall be suspected
of sympathy with that false cry intended to
deceive and give opportunity to further the
base plans and selfish interests of the cor
rupt and fraudulent. Theirs is the old trick
of the rogue when pursued mingling with
the pursuers and shouting, "Stop thief Stop
thiefw
Good government is that in which its
three fold function of legislation, judicature,
and administration secures exact justice to
every individual. First of all its laws should
be righteous, just, and fair, based upon a
capable understanding of moral qualities
and actions; and then its executives should
be chosen chiefly for their known ability
and purpose to rigidly perform public duties.
depression OF crime is not the sole object OF
law or government; its first concern is to
foster good in its incipient and weakest
forms; thus, in an appreciable degree, di-
mlnishing the wrong by cultivation and ex'
tension OF the right Formation is superior
to reformation in that the injury calling Tor
repentance or punishment has been pre-
vented A single consistent church is Il
mghtier ally of just governing power
than numerous constabulary; single
school where moral instruction keeps step
with scientific or classic teaching Is better
than hundred prisons. Better politics,
even, without regard to graver matters.
The Toe TO this ideal is the neediness, greedi
ness, and vain glory which are the chief
qualities OF most men, as Carlyle convln
cingly argues. Here il the precise oppor
tunity OF the reiormer, his finest field. Here
is chance Tor something nobler than trai
torous party smashing; better than snarlng
and swapping over hay which the dogs
nature OF a rule or ruin factionist prevents
his using; better than a disastrous attempt
to crafty false ambition, as senseless as It
is ignoble II, in sincere humility he rates
himself only u minute, scintillescent, and
tremulous star" still, let him range on high
with kindred stars, and mingle his sheen
with generous lights that stream in splendid
rays upon darkened world In an age like
this, rotten to the core, worshiping the golden
calf, turning with its nose the refuse heaps
TO scent filthy prize, gong on its belly for
the hope of gain, PROSTATE in the dust with
servile flattery OF slaves and slummeIs 10
reach an eminence OF dshonor, with what
ever conviction it may have crlngng To
circumstances which promise its desire,
compromising with enemies and betTaylng
friends, digging its tomb under mounds OF
dead bones and putreiaction, hating all good
and loathIng itself, turning its marvellous
scientific conquests into further means OF
immortality and Dissertation, heaping 10 itself
Religious" ~ teachers with itching ears and
still more itching palms, despsing righte
GUS authority, ovcrthrowing the landmarks
whose guidance brought prosperity 10 the
state and progress 10 the church, when "COb
blers rule over Quirites, and freedmen sit IN
the senate" as in the time OF the monster
Nero, turning patriotism" into an instru
ment OF murder for the sake of robbery, and
acceerating its speed toward the final place
that fits it-this is the true relormer's very
hour; this is the time to electriiY his pen
and touch his lips with Goals of fire lie
must face martyrdom in one or more OF its
variant forms /; as his predecessors met II;
as IL shall overtake his SUCCESSORS. Is IL not
worth the whilep Is IL not worth while 10 at
least attempt the rescue OF the "poor speech
less, unconscious people" from the thraldOm
of political animalcula whose touch is delile-
ment and their dominance death Is it not
wiser 10 rouse the deluded than TO suffer
him, without protest, 10 walk with sealed
eyes over into the abyssp II the Ignorant, |
the vulgar, the obscure, the INSCRIPTIONS
are 10 govern, then the end is not distant,
and the republic is doomed The greatest |
need Of the hour is 10 reform the alleged re-
formers. Not for their value, but for the |
salvation of their dupe'. If, AS the noble
Roman said, at is sweet to die for ones |
country" Is IL not u dearer thing, a grander |
destiny TO suffer on behalf of UNIVERSAL man |
There are lew, very few, such men IN the
world to-day; but they are not IN politics
While all governmental regulations and
restrictions should be moral in tone and
tendency, no enactment or its advocate
SHOULD he tult rated Tor one instant that pro
poses 10 In the slightest degree infringe upon
natural rights, personal or moral freedom.
No government can stand which undertakes
TO interfere with the tastes or habits Of the
individual. The most absolute monarchy |
has never dared that venture. lntOleraDt
fanatics have been tolerated, because, how
ever harsh aud abusive their rantings, 1t has |
not been feared that they would come into
power. Contempt will serve till something |
more Is needed. 1t is true that ~ this coun
try what some pirate about as "liberty' Is
understood by not lew TO mean license |
but in all ages Il corrective for this evil has |
been found, suited 10 the times So long as |
no injury is done 10 society, no wrong com
mitted against his neghbor, harming only |
himself, no man is answerable save 10 God |
only, and He is infinitely more merciful In |
his judgments than men. Any enactment |
TO the contrary is tyanny, which ought 10
be resisted 10 the death. There Is a kind Of |
man let loose among US who advocates Just |
this tyranny. ] merely nod at him, IN pass
ing, promising 10 attend 10 him 10 his proper