The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-29
WILMINGTON. N. c.
mn UADLEY,s SECOND ADDRESS

President Hadley. of Yale University.
Connecticut. has made another address.
explaining his Boston speech that was
much denounced by people who are not
of the masses. He processes to cherlsn
hope of the republic and strongly be-
Iieves in a government by public opin-
ion. He spoke before the University OF
California on 23rd inst. He said that
free competition was far better than
class legislation. That is SOUND and
truly democratic. He also condemned
control by government machinery. Or
that he spoke as follows:
.But that power is more apparent
than real. 4. democratic government.
in exercising this power, lacks the COM
pelIing force behind it which is felt n
a onarc or an a~ristocracy-ror
what Is everybody's business Is no
body's business; and laws which were
passed with enthusiasm often go unen-
forced. 1t lacks continuity OF poncy,
tenacity of purpose and selr-restralhl
in the use of the Eaw-making power.
It's statute often end in nothing except
invasion and inconvenience.
He is evidently more than an abstract
reaeoner or a Iatter-day theoriser. He
believes strongly in a sound and wise
public opinion. There was once such
an opinion. but how is 1t now? Is
public opinion in the last few years
marked With the wisdom Of common
sense and a high sense of justice? DR..
Hadlev SAYS that ''self-interest being
an inadequate support for political
and moral order. and over-leglslatlon
an evil worse than that which II un-
dertakes to cure. we must go back 10
the true principle of self-government-
government based on public senti-
ment." He then urges the Importance
and force of public opinion. He con-
tends as follows:
Some moralists deny the existence ot
any public opinion Independent OF
seIfshness. But they have the facts OF
history against them. Public sentl-
ment is the name given to the feeling
which gives effect to virtues OF patriot
ism and public devotion. 1t is because
it exists that we have remained thus
far a free people. 1t must and VIII de-
yelop as our problems develop. Inc
man who says that it cannot be done
is inviting political suicide"
In some important particulars an en-
Heightened public sentiment is highly
curative, is a great corrective OF evil
He Instances the hazing at West Point
But there are other evils of a crying
and i~nsufferable nature that some how
public opinion ices not touch, and the
evils continue to flourish in great luxu-
rance and exceeding tenacity. cop
bear and suffer and do not unite heart
ily and determinately n bring about
corrections and cures. Look at the gil
gantic tax under the robber tariff
Look at their mighty offsprings the op'
pressing, absorbing. killing trusts.
DIR. Hadley holds that 1.-The power OF
public opinion. in its true sense. Is an
instrument fitted to meet all h needs
of society and capable Of indefinite ex-
pansion without threatening the foun-
dations of self-government." There is
now a very real. a very pressing de-
mand that all lovers Of real liberty, all
genuine Americans, all sincere patriots,
all believers in a government of the
people-a real republic-should unite
heart and soul.