Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-06-21
Are We "Advancing9''


1t should not surprise or dispiease
any one if an American citizen confess
eS himself startled and confused by the
declaration that the present tendency
of our government is an advance,
step forward, a nearer approach TO
higher and better ideals of human
government. This StartleS and con-
fuses because the founders of this ma
ton believed with the intensest sim
certify that they were making an ad-
vance; were moving towards higher
and better ideals of human govern
ment when they declared that tax
alton without representation was
wrong, and that government to be
right must derive its powers from
consent of the governed. But the
advance now boosted of involves
the reputation of both of these great
principles. 1t is true that the repu-
diation does not yet apply to former
citizens, neither does the alleged
advance" We have advanced be-
cause we own colonies, and the people
in the colonies are the victims of the
Reputation referred to. 1t will have
to be conceded that we now accept the
principle that people may be taxed
without representation, and may be
governed without their consent, and
without reasonable hope of ever hav-
ing representation, or their consent
ever being asked, even if we have not
yet come to the point of submitting
to those things ourselves: but there is
yet time enough for that.
Now, il this new theory of ours is
an "advance" then the fathers of the
republic made the ghastliest mistake
of history! The principles we are said
to have advanced to were living and
active, yes, and very old when the
mistaken fathers thought they were
advancing by getting away from them.
But if we have now really advanced,
then the fathers went backward, and
went back so far that it has taken us,
progressive as we are, a century and a
quarter to recover the ground they
lost If adopting the SelfSame methods
of governing remote peoples that the
fathers revolted from is genuine ad-
vance,. then this reasoning is sound.
If it lis not sound then our present
policy is not an advance
Now, honor bright, should it sur
prise or displease anyone to learn that
his neighbor is startled, confused and
sad when he finds himself in posi-
ton where he must either have his
loyalty to his country questioned. or
must confess that the fathers he had
adored from his earliest recollection
made terrible, even a criminal, mis-
take? That neighbor is honest, is
most sincere when he believes that if
the boosted advance of the present
is right that the fathers were wrong,
and that if the fathers were right
then the So-called advance is wrong.
And when he reviews the past, the
growth and development of his coun-
try and its proud position among ma
tions while it was true to the princi
pies of the fathers, can his ADLER and
wiser neighbOrS cenSure him very SER
iously for believing that experience
proved the fathers to be right, and
for adhereing to that belief until fur
ther experience demonstrates that
departure from the principles of the
fathers will make still larger contri-
buttons to the development of the
country and the prosperity and nappi-
ness of the people? The ADLER and
wiser neighbors of the benighted one
suggested, may pity his ignorance,
stupidity and blind faith in the faith
erS, but as yet they have no warrant
for censuring or. condemning him.
But rather they should try to enlight-
en- him, and when they make the at
tempt they can address their letters
in care of F. S. & H., and he and
other benighted ones will get them
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