Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-07-29
The Reformer-Part 6.
From The JefsrsOnian, by ]. L. LODGE
d. D., Editor.
La Question Sociase est u,.e Question Nora

nc crying Slu Ol I'LL BONciuLhohuo 10 VhoV
they meddle injuriously with human affairs,
and obstruct the processes OF nature by
excessive legislation w. E. Claiming.
A true and forceful statement Of abuse of
power 10 single phasis. We have an IL.
lustration in the capers of coterie OF little
fellows who probably never before saw the
state house, and who enjoy three months
spree at the capital when not connecting
party schemes by exhibiting themselves as
new. fedged statesmen Eheu One propos-
es the enactment of statute compelling rail
road company-being corporation, and his
virtuous soul abhorring all corporate bodies,
good and bad-to place tiagman, or electric
bells, wherever in the pines wagon road
crosses the track. Another, sentimental, and
wishing to please old maids and idiots, Sc
cures the passage of law protecting crows,
hawks, buzzards, and other song Birds
These, objects OF rdicule, comparatively
harmless. Those to be feared, to whom the
mobocracy has deputed power to invade the
natural rights OF men by legislation which
robs by taxation, fraudulent appropriation
OF means which are by right the common
property Of all, making 1t impossible to pre-
vent that inequality of opportunity which
enriches class of scoundrels at the expense
Of the striving, struggling mass. Systemat-
ically robbing the poor mans table and
back; yet, mirdJile dictu, successful in blind
ing his eyes and getting his vote; so that we
are poised between pity and disgust for the
miserable fool Moved by anything like
moral considerations, and proper under
standing of why governors were diVlnely
ordained, legislation would be necessarily
limited and simple The theocracy was
based upon two general principles the
duty every man owes to his Maker, and the
duties arising out of the relation OF men one
to another. The individual to do only what
God will approve; each to act toward all
others as he would have all Others act TO,
ward him. The only perfect example OF
government the world has known was salts
fed TO rest on this compound principle. But
it did not satisfy human ideas and cravings,
for the people said "set king over u.s.
This enduring fact of history, In connection
with subsequent and linked events through
all generations, has demonstrated, what only
few philosophers have had the courage to
assert, that men are incapable of sell gov
eminent; and it is one of many proofs that no
government can be worse than ochlocracy,
the rule of the multitude, which so many
seem to think is the same thing as genuine
democracy. Revolt against autocracy aborts
In proletaranism, the rule OF the vile, vul-
gar, lowest class, the end OF whose admins
tration is anarchy and its attendant horrors.
Two extreme vices in political character
threaten the stability of any form of govern
ment: Servile submission to power, without
regard to its moral quality, aggravated, in
this country, by an insane boastlulness OF
strength and resources which periorce en-
sure triumph; and hatred of all govern
mental direction and restriction. AS to the
first instance, illustrated by the big bully
who beats and robs the small boy simply
because he has the brute force required Tor
the cowardly action, and because he knows
other big bullies will applaud, the protest of
William Jay, 1S49, applies: Few virtues
are more universally proiessed, few are more
imperfectly apprehended, and few are more
rarely practiced than patriotism. Our coun
try, right or wrong is rebellion against the
moral government OF Jehovah and treason
to the cause of civil and religious liberty, OF
Justice and humanity" AS to the last named
vice, the refuse of all Europe and the rest OF
the world dumped upon Americas shores
have now become numerous enough ana
bold enough TO manifest the lawless spirit.
Both these evil dispositions are elements oil
extreme danger. The history Of France
affords numerous examples of that low
minded suicidal side of republicanism which
abhors all superiority, in which love oil Tree
dom is mere hatred OF successful men who
have most advanced its cause, and vanity
and selfishness root out patriotism. Berna-
dotte, who had been "drawn from the dregs
of a democracy" advanced by the great
Napoleon TO be Crown. Prince Of Sweden,
betrayed liberty and his master by siding
with the Allies in the crucial hour oil his
leader and his country. In the memorable
campaign of 1918 that man whom his ad'
mirers had the hardihood to call "the vir
tuous Moreau" turned over TO the AuLocrat
OF all the Russias all his country had won
of independence under the one man upon
earth capable of coping with her enemies.
Moreau was just from America, where he
learned how 10 be "reformer," renegade
and traitor
The nostrum compounded by the latter,
day alleged reformers, OF which ana oil
whom we have had an all too-slckenlng
dose, will not restore that political health
which with Pecksniffian piety and Uriah
Heepy "umbleness" they call good govern
ment" The evil is too deeply rooted TO be
cured by the hypocritical, treacherous, sell
seeking doctors that they are Not EN-
piricism but palingenesia Is demanded;
Reforming a nation by tremendous cheers
answering braying ass Is fictitious and DIS
appointing. Any real attempt at reform IN
politics would go TO the root OF the trouble
1t would lay down the principle that the
ballot is not right but privilege, and that
none should use it but those possessing
qualifications conformable 10 reason and
Justice 1t would demand that the vote OF
an intelligent, responsible man Of property
should not be nulified by the vote OF
beastly biped controlled by spirits superior
to himself only 10 management and trlCk'
erv. Reform would declare and enforce The
declaration that voter tor sale Is unnt lOr
citizenship. That one who cannot under
stand or appreciate the legal and moral
principles that underlie righteous govern
ment should have no part in governing.
That dense ignorance should be an all suiil-
ciept bar 10 suffrage. IL would indoctrlnate
In principles of moral nature which would
progressively lessen the necessity Tor crlml'
nal statutes II would first cruelty and then
reduce TO ashes the dastardly assassins Of
order and decency who say There IS no
place for the ten commandments In politics
| II would deal In vetoes, clutching the throat
and choking the life out OF monopolies, yam
pires whose helish greed requires new wars
| To glut It. With thunder on its brow and
lightning in its hand it would dare another
single step in any association Of prOlesscd
| Christians and scoffers for the political or
religious persecution Of particular body
of Christians. 1t would demand that con-
science shall be free, and God left TO judge.
Reform would strive for good government
J by putting 1t into the hands Of men intelll-
| gent and Influential with the best elements
10 society, who have social, moral, property
interests at stake, rather than the agrarlan
vulgar, or the low upstart grown rich by
plumber. II cannot be denied that limited
monarchy has its advantages. Specially in
the material selected for legislators, for rea-
sons too obvious TO require demonstration.
While religion pure and simple universal
in the system Of government is neither pos
sble nor Indispensable, manhood in the
voter, and capacity, honesty and sincerity
in the legislator or other public servant Is
Indispensable Above all things the mar
sincere. Not the diabolical wretch who
trims for and catches the 30 called "temper
ance" vote, while buying his election with
barrels of rum Without known protest
from the self righteous The first step II
, | ,.ou.ino rofnrpn will he a uniOn of ALI pOOf