The record-union., 1898-12-07
PRESENT DAY THOUGHTS.
BY G. Grosvcnor Dave.


above party politics will this winters
questions be. You and I believe in
parties most definitely, but the time iii
the history of our country is actually
here when we shall be forced to take
non-partisan views of somei great ques-
tions. If we refuse to be non-partsan
it will be because we are blind to the
position of Times shadow over the dial
of our history. 1t is one Of our high
moons, when the light inclines neither
to one side nor to the other: but a
clear-cut line divides the preparatory
half of the days duty from the half
that remains to be done.
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 '9S. 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, if personal and
party triumph is the thing that is
sought after. If 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
hurry. You have a thousand cares on
your mind and a thousand things to
do; and you are glad to delegate some
things to others. You practically say
to your minister: IT have no time for
thinking out theology; you do it and
give me the results" You say to your
physician: II 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, makes laws for me; shall be con-
tent" But I declare to you that we
cannot thus shift along responsibility
If we do it. is because we have no
sense of proportion and esteem a
nickel's worth of gain above things
whose value is inestimable.
Look square1y at the issues before
us, and then determine that If letter
from you will hold a Congressman
straight, it shall be written; If a word
from you cannot 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 it
will give you the supreme satisfaction
that as a unit of our Government, in
your sphere, you have exercised your
power to the full.
What confronts us? The necessity Of
deciding on a national policy toward
J1.o
definitely on what that policy shall be
that it shall not swerve a hairs
breadth through the changing admin
istrations of the future. If it proves
to be broad, comprehensive statesman
ship that the generations to follow will
praise, the glory of it will be equally
divided between the parties, and '9S
be thrice notable year in which q
generous impulse forced us to war, a
year in which we became world pow
er, a year in which men We're broad
minded enough to esteem national pol
Icy above narrow party.
Involved in that national policy are
these questions and others:
The right to VOTE nationally.-Can
we trust voting power to Porto Ricans,
Hawaiians, Filipinos? If we cannot
now SO confide in the wisdom of any
or all of these. when and under what
conditions shall this foundation prin-
ciple of our Government be finally and
firmly established among them? dare
to predict that more than half CEN
tury will elapse before those who take
our tasks will be able to reach the end
of this question; and, let US hope, ap-
prove our wisdom.
The right to vote, locally.-Shall the
local offices be filled from Washington
or by the choice of the people affected?
If from Washington, shall political
fealty have anything to do with the
appointment or shall the man be ap-
pointed solely because of preparatory
study and fitness? If appointed by
local will, in what manner shall the
right to vote be delimited. SO as to
prevent action antagonistic to the
Washington Government?
The right to education.-Shall we at
once inaugurate for all the children of
all our possessions system that shall
provide for their mental needs? Shall
we begin with only the simplest rudi
ments, and let the training beyond that
be of practical character manual
and agricultural?
The right to worship.-Ought we at
once to disestablish any State religion
that may confront US? If we disestab-
1ish, shall we still leave men free to
worship God or gods, just as their own
consciences and previous education
dictate? If not, how shall we draw
the line between those forms of wor-
- ruu- ! ~nrn ~ 0vu nav