The Van Buren press., 1900-06-16
|ER.G9V[RNED PEOPLE.
What We Want is Less Government
Less Politics, More Honesty
and More Intelligence.
WHERE THE DANGER TO AMERICA LIES,
Not on the Broad Fertile Prniries n,
Illinois. or in the West. Wher.
Patriotism Is Universal, hut 4,
the Great cities, with Thei,
Struggling, Restless Thousandu.

Champaign, Ill.,, June 14,--Comptrol.
Ter Bird 5. Coler, of New York, deliv.
cred the principal address at the com.
mencement of the state university.
and some of his statements created
sensation. He said in part:
The Birthplace of Our Problems,
"rhe great civic and political prob.
lens of this country to-day were born
Of the social conditions that exist in
The cities, and there the fight for more
intelligence and a higher standard Of
public honesty must be fought and
won. No serious danger 10 American
Institutions turks anywhere on the
broad and fertile prairies of Illinois,
or the west, where patriotism is uni
versal, and honesty the inherent birth.
right of every citizen. But in the great
cities of the east and west, with their
teeming, struggling, restless thou.
sands, who, tasting liberty for the first
time, are prone TO mistake it for the
intoxicating license of unreasonins
freedom, there are problems that re,
luire for their just settlement the
wisdom and patience Of the best citi
senship.
Corruption In Gov ernment.
corruption in state and municipal
government has too long been accept
ed in this country as a matter Of
course. There has been growing tend
ency upon men VINO We're otherwise
good citizens to shirk public duties
They wanted to keep out of politics
and public life, but in keeping out
they made room in both places for
men who ought TO be in jail
The spirit of corrupt commercialism
has invaded politics and public lif,
in this country, and in some of the
arger cities the invasion has for time
overrun the government. BY the spir'
1t of commercialism IN this connection
mean that public feeling, far too pre-.
TALENT in this country, that politics is
a business, and those engaged in it are
entitled to make money out of it.
4 New system of stealing.
"The old system Of stealing from
the public treasuray has passed away
md the safer and more profitable plans
OF bartering political influence for
stock in corporations has succeeded.
"Bad political government mty be
tolerated for q time, but corrupt poll.
ties and corporate greed in combina.
ZION call for prompt measures for the
protection of the rights of the people.
"The rapid development of the vast
resources of this country has been, in
4 large measure, due to Legitimate
combination of capital, and the man
Of influences who opposes corporations
without reason becomes n mer, stun.
bling block in the path of progress.
The Time is Coming.
1.-THE time is coming, however, when
The grant by state government OF a
charter conveying to corporation spe.
,ial powers and privileges, will carry
with 1t the right to inspect and regu.
ate the business created or carried
On under that grant. This can not be
hardship upon Legitimate business,
md it is no more that proper ex.
tension of the power and duty of gov.
.rnment.
"Bue in leglsating to corerct abuses,
md to better protect the rights of the
peopc as u whole, the greatest wis,
ION must be exercised to prevent over.
legislation. We are now the most over.
fovernecd people on earth and | fear
that much OF the excess is due to the
Efforts of educated men who mean
we'll but are not practical,
What we want is less government
less politics, more honesty and more
Intelligence"
'ro,hcwddsspE ctaoi tooi tao itaoinc.