The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-06-24

verified by constituencies politicians,
free people coerced into submission by
our supposedly free nation.
Suppose the Filipinos are subjugated.
What have we to offer them? A true
republic as a model? Their subsection
bellies the letter and spirit of the de-
claratinn of independence the embodi-
ment of our republics distinguishing
features. Can we make them believe
that we can furnish public morality,
true culture, and pure ideals? Not II
| they hear eX-Representative Walkers
truthful remark that every Legislative
body in the land is corrupt; not if they
find out that education is secondary to
money making, that our highest ideal Is
the almighty dollar" Can we assure
them that, despite all this, the great
conscience of the American people is
true to the republic and that therefore,
they would be in safe hands? Imagine
their scorn and derision when they
heard about our American monarch,
the political boss In short, all we have
to offer is a republic with neglected
| ideals, with wealth at the helm, cor
ruption in the cabin, culture in the hold,
with a people wavering, unconsciously
perhaps, between democracy and mon
archy.
But, says the practical man, where is
the remedy? Can we rear no bulwark?
lWhere is the origin of this power be-
hind our republican throne? In repub-
| lie, all rights of government come from
the governed. Upon the governed, then,
! all corrective forces must be brought TO
| bear. On the purity and enlightenment
of the public mind through private
opinion depends the nations fate, for
in the purity and unselfishness of pri-
vate opinion lies our republics true
greatness and only salvation Here
should be Joined the patriotic efforts OF
| the forum, the press, and the pulpit.
Here should be directed the eXertiOns of
| education. Not classical lore alone; not
mathematical and scientific erudition
only.
| Once let the truth that the humber
things of life with liberty unimpaired
are preferable to all the emeluments of
wealth and position permeate the peo-
pies mind, and they would approach
our republican institutions with all the
reverence of the prophet on Mt. Horeb,
| who removed his shoes because the
ground wherein ne trod was holy" I'm
der the scrutiny of an enlightened pub
| lie gaze political aspirants would be
| compelled to conform to JefferSOn's
| test rs he honest? Is he capable? Is
| he true to the constitutions the mo-
rality of Calling guns would be replaced
by the morality of the ten command
ments together with the salient truths
of honesty in public office as well as in
private trust, for it is infinitely worse
to defraud a nation or a state than to
defraud an individual. Upon this adj
amantine foundation alone can be
erected the structure around which the
battle will be fought that will save the
nation.
Our republic is the foremost beurer
of the most precious treasures of the
race. In her success, the hopes of
mankind for higher life are conferred.
If she succeeds, she will do more for all
men than if she conquered all the con-
tinents and islands in existence. II
she fails, the world is once more cast
adrift, and, as Story says, liberty per-
ishes, perhaps forever.
Her mission is to show that popular
government on a large scale is compat-
ible with the best culture, the purest
religion, the highest justice, and that 1t
can permanently endure. Let her tread
with secure and steady steps along
her own pathways, under the guiding
star of intelligence, respecting natlonS
and men. Let her say to the tempter,
be he imperjalist. corruptlonlst or an
archist, what he said on the mount
when all the glories of the world We're
spread before him: Get thee behind
me. Satan!" Let her remember that
the health of q nation is imperilled II
one man be oppressed; that private
character is the leaven Of social purity,
the censor of public ideals; that there
fore the enlightenment or degradation
of the individual, resulting in the
strengthening or weakening of PERSONAL
integrity, means the enlightenment or
degradation of the state.