Evening journal., 1901-11-19
TUESDAY. NOVEMBER 10, 100
MAXIMUM OR MINIMUM

MAXIMUM OR MINIMUM
There are many persons throughout
the United States who value their citi-
zenship so lightly that they refuse to
take any part in politics, even TO the
extent Of castinga ballot There are the
idealists who have in mind a vague
dream of commonwealth which shall
be conducted with absolute virtue, wis
dom and economy. TO such minds the
ignorance Of a class Of our voters, and
the corruption Of others is a matter so
doplorable. that for their peace OF mind
they renounce their obligations Of citi-
zenship and give up their aspiration
for an ideal State indisgust
There is also the cynic who holds the
virtue of men. parties and all societies
in contempt. Who finds no church good
enough for him. and who cannot aflili-
ate with any organization when a sim
gle member thereof holds views that
run counter 10 his own. To him public
virtue is mere cant. and every platform
bundle of Inconsistencies. His favor
tie expression is that all platforms are
alike and he makes little or no distinc-
tion between the merits of candidates.
On the theory that political life is de-
grading he holds himself aloof, and is
not TO be found at the polls when great
issues that mean much for every public
and private interest are at stake
t4 H., no u-Isr fur
out one set Of robbers and install an
other? He represents a large class
OF our citizens
Then we turn to another class, q
very large aggregation. IL might be
designated the party of expediency. It
proceeds upon the theory that politics
is primarily selfish, and is game Of
chance where the stakes are to be play
ed for as much as in the game OF poker.
IL is made mp of those whose primal in
stinct is greed, and who in their bust
ness dealings have no god but gain.
But these are not sufficiently numer-
GUS to be effective when acting alone
and they are aware of that fact. There
fore they early learn the game Of ma
nipulation. Their first great effort is
10 get hold of party machinery. then
they stand on a vantage ground from
which It is not easy to dislodge them
The honest but ignorant man they
command. and can usually count upon
his loyalty. The corrupt they deliber'
ately prepare 20 meet with offers oi
money: but they are not yet invincible
There is vet class of honest. repu
table citizens who cannot be bough
and who refuse to be driven; men who
have nothing in common with their dc.
testable political schemes; these mus
be Influenced or persuaded
- IL is here that the cunning and gen
eralship of the boss becomes apparent
From his subsidized press and from hi
orators come appeals to party loyalty
The horror of a triumph of the oppoa
ing party is depicted Make your pro
test within the party lines" and "obe
the voice of the majority" become ia
miliar by constant iteration. Sue
VlfNN NAAAM AnNurNAhAn WIZ az AAAhh ~
luctantly submit, and afterwards b.
come firm in their allegiance throug
the necessity of a constant defense
their position. These men are goo
men, they are honest and inteligen
but in politics are led 10y reasonir
which would not move them in an
other relation in life. There are me
who buy votes without a qualm WI
would have horror of ordinary bus
ness dishonesty.
There is yet another class, and
numbers are increasing. II is oompos
'of men. who. as President Roosev'
said. have their heads in the clou
and their feet upon the earth" Tn
have ideals. and recognize that witho
these governments and individi
characters would go TO pieces. Th
recognize. however that they mi
work with material that is merely
man. and tolerate the faults and wes
ness of their own nature when fou
in others. To their minds men
Obliged to seek a minimum OF evil
politics. rather than profit by it's ma
mum. They do not lay down II
arms under temporary disaster, I
they will work faithfully in the RAJ
of their own organization so long a
preserves a certain amount of decor
When. however. it appears that
civic standards have been lowered
a carnival OF indecency has begun, I
will make their fight where il
count for most
There is a man OF this idea in
presidential chair; every member