The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-09
.cONTEMpoRARYIN MYSTERIES

ACONTEMPORAR IN HYSTEki's'
The suggestion by The Times the other
dov that the postal service would prooa-
blv be conducted more economically ana
more evidently by a private corporation
n,on under government control has
,nroo-, our esteemed contemporary the
Norfoll, Virginian-Pilot into Mysteries
"perhaps TOO. adds our contemporary
"the Judiciary should be put to contract
the Treasury Department farmed ou''
and the legislative Department let 10
the lobbyist for q fixed sum
That shows the trend Of the Nirgimah-
Pilots mind. Those who belong To inns
scbool do not distinguish between the
t-,e and proper functions Of government
and functions of a purely business char
actor that belong rather 10 the business
world. Under our system it Is the luhc-
t,on of government to preserve the hDef-
Ties Of the people, to protect society from
r,o vicious and to guarantee to every
citizen equal and exact justice. OF ~
tho trainers OF the Constitution put It,
"to establish justice. insure donosuc
tranouilitv. provide for the common de-
fence promote the general welfare, ana
secure the blessings of liberty to our
selves and 20 our posterity'
But some people in these latter days
have conceived the idea that it Is the
duty of the government to exercise a sort
If maternal care and control over the
business affairs of each individual ciu-
zen. to help each citizen 10 make living
and accumulate property, ana TO prevent
other citizens who are more intelligent
more active. and more onterprising from
heating him in the competition of trade
Therefore they say that the government
should take charge Of everything con-
duct the general business Of the country
and give employment to those who are
not able to take care Of themselves.
We do not say that our Norfolk con-
temporary has gone TO that extreme but
that is the tendency OF the Nirginian-
Pilot and its associates, and the Logical
conclusion of that tendency is pure and
complete socialism as we attempted 10
show in a recent article.
our Norfolk contemporary in further
discussion of the subject says that rota-
ton of parties in administration prevents
abuse and neglect of public affairs and
insures the best and most economical
government and adds:
IL is a long lease of power like that the
Republican party has he'd since 1851 mat
dcmors.izcs a party and its otlcials; Tor,
assured of impunity and continuance Of
power. i'm the partizanry and strength OF
their party. do as they will they consider
the government practically theirs, ana
act accordingly. Even the best Of par
ties loses its integrity under the tempta-
tions of long rule and assured popular
backing.
Quite So And it is for this very rca-
son ;hat we are in Ia 'or Of reducing pub
lie patronage to the minimum. The party
in control always has the advantage OF
having large and influential clientele
throughout the land. Every Office holder
and al his friends are friends Of the adj
ministration under which he holds Office
and all these work together to keep the
dominant party in power. II IS hard
enough as it is to oust the party which
has control OF all the large patronage Of
:his government. How much harder
that would be If that patronage were
doubled and trebled. If the present adj
ministration had control Of the railroads
and telegraph lines and so on with tho
large number Of employees Of these eli
terpriscs. il would be next to Impossible
to drive it from power
The Times is opposed TO strong cen
traIizcd government. We believe In Just
as little government as possible, consis-
tent with the welfare Of the nation. We
believe In a strong people and govern
mont that IS controlled by the people.
Whenever il comes 20 pass I'm this coun-
try that the people are controlled by the
government then liberty Will take wings
and hy away.