Evening journal., 1901-11-29
KEEP AGITATING

KEEP AGITATING
II is wonderful to remark the virtue
which Addicksism has developed dur
ing the course of its existence. Spe-
cial pleading has been exalted to a fine
art and falsehood hath indeed put on a
goodly outside What at first was
feebly defended on the ground of ex-
pediency now becomes an eternal prin-
ciple demanding the allegiance of all
honest men, Il has developed recent
" that the Addicks party does not de-
sire offices. although we have thought
that the party existed primarily for a
single office, that OF u. S. senator
The principle of majority rule is
now of superior moment to the
golden rule, and men pledge their
loyalty to It who upheld It's first and
greatest violation. The man who de-
fed it when it put him aside, now in
vokes It for his own benefit.
How skilled editorial pens are be-
coming in holding up the noxious
ideals of Addicksisml Black is made
into the purest white light. and white
is as black as Erebus We have long
editorials on the fundamental
principles of municipal govern
ment, which are specious. but
cunning appeals 10 ignorance and
vice. We are told that we cannot
have good municipal government,
since the mass of people are not on a
very high plane and that consequently
we may not expect much of govern
ment made by the masses. What is
the inference to be drawn from such
remarks? Wen. the complete argu-
ment runs about as follows: The peo-
pie are not viruous, and you cannot
have a government better than the
people Addicksism has low ideals
and low methods. and. hence, should
be entrusted with the government
Preach such doctrine generally for
a few decades. and our people would
start on a mad race to perditon. To
poisons our water supply would be
no more pernicious. OF course not
all men are as good as the churches,
and even as the moralist would have
them but man for man they are in
finitely superior to those who preach
these doctrines. The government is
not the result Of average wisdom and
morality Men are better at heart
than their votes at times Indicate
IL is a fact that the worst side of our
nature is apt to be uppermost in poll
tics. and men have been educated to a
staadard in casting a ballot which is
far beneath that which they hold il
every other relation in life. Perhaps
an election indicates the average poll
tical morality and intelligence, bu'
that is all.
But granting all that has been sale
on the question. what then? Shall w
accept conditions as they are an,
make no protest? We rarely STAN
still. and II we allow ourselves to drif
with the tide, it is apt to carry us far
ther away from the point we desire Z
reach. It smacks OF fatalism, whic'
makes men tamely submit to tn
worst impositions under the feelin
that what is. cannot be avoided, an
that there is no use to protest.
Carry this doctrine into educauo
and where shall we end? Say to tn
public that the mass is more or les
ignorant and always viii be. and 20
dampen all enthusiasm and paralyii
all efforts at betterment Progre:
consists in comparing the ideal wit
.he real: Of course we shall nevl
reach the former. but We shall mo
nearly approach it. The father do
not say to his son: Il know most DO.
are bad. and that they do a thousaI
things that they should not do, an
therefore. It is useless for me to t
to inspire you with better principle
either by precept or example" n
his standard is the ideal and he W
never be satisfied till it is reach'
and therefore he must ever in a met
ure be dissatisfied. That, too, is
condition of progress.
What are our preachers for?
hunt out the real and to hold it
for emulation? We think not,
rather their mission is to inspire n
to nobler and better conduct in ev
walk OF life. but to be satisfied they
not expect. SO in politics while
shall still have to work with cert
forces which do not always meet
approval. yet good men, loyal I
viii continue 10 agitate, and to arc
the public conscience. that each y
may witness an advance in civic i
tue. The worst elements in polit