Arizona daily citizen., 1901-10-09

NO'' - u WI VIZ
mndc tho most vehement denlais,
Yet when the crisis came they
were swept along with the unthink-
ing and the emotional aud Joined
in the hue and cry for the abridg-
ment Of rights solemnly guaran-
teed by the Constitution Of the
United States.
One fact which recent events
must have impressed upon the
country is the comparatively small
proportion Of those figuring prom
inently rs moldcrs of public opin-
ion whose counsels can be follow
ed safely at critical periods. No
doubt many of those who clam
ored for indiscriminate repression
would be the first to complain il
their ideas could be carried out
They would assert, probably with
truth, that they never intended to
surrender any of their liberties
that they desired simply to impose
wholesome restraints upon those
who convert liberty into IL
cense. That indeed, is what all
sober minded Americans desire to
! do, but they do not intend to eff
feet this contamination by meas
ures which would deprive them of
any of the rights and privileges
they now enjoy Therein they
differ from those needless and in
discreet persons who in an excess
Of emotion would have put all
Americans in the same category
with anarchists-who would muz-
zle an entire people in order that a
! few thousand agitators and dan
gorous persons might be restrain
ed from proclaiming murderous
sentiments openly. This remedy
would be infinitely worse than the
evil il was intended to correct. 1t
is strange that this thought did
not occur to those who were SO
prolific in suggesting proscrlptlve
measures which would bride the
tongue of every citizen. II Con-
gress were as impulsive and reck-
less as some Of those who figure as
guides of public opinion it might
if it followed the advice which pro-
ceeded from hundreds of sources
at time of great national excite
ment, enact legislation which
would impose intolerable restric-
tions upon law abiding citizens.
Fortunately the country is
blessed with clear headed men who
do not lose sight ofvital principles,
! it matters not what the crisis may
be. These are the men who posses
the qualities and instincts of true
craftsmanship. There may not be
great many of them, but they
have the power of making them
selves heard. When they speak
the public wonders how it was ev-
or led away from the right paths
by tho clamor of men not clear
sighted enough to see that their
own suggestions, born of emotion
alism, involve a dangerous depart
ure from safe and correct princip-
les. Eternal vigilance" it has
been we'll said, is the price of lib
erty" The people have to be
guarded, not only against the in
trigues of unscrupulous men who
would subvert their liberties, but
also against the blunders Of we'll
meaning men, who lose their
heads" at times when prudence and
caution are more than ever essential
to the correct solution of national
problems. 1t is at such junctures
that wise craftsmanship makes it.
self felt, correcting the errors born
of impulse and Leading the people
back to the paths from which they
have strayed under the leadership
of mon guided more by sentiment
than by reason,
Senator Hoar has performed n
great public service by his prompt
and clear declaration. Ho can
command the attention OF the
country. He can soothe the agita.
ton Of the nerveless.
And what Senator Hoar declar-
ed is all truth. The maintainance
of the honor and glory and strength
of this nation can be safely en-
trusted to any portion Of its citi-