Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-09-02
THE CORVALLIS GAZETTE.
ON RIGHT LINES.

discussed the leading questions
now engaging public attention
in plain, direct and simple speech
which cannot fail of doing much
good. He continually presents
plain, homely old truths relating
to character, good citizenship
and the true functions of govern
ment, following American ideals.
At first glance this seems al
most puerile. 1t is not, however.
The president sees, as every
thoughtful American does, that
large numbers of men, especially
in our cities, have lost sight OF
the relations which individual
character and the homely duties
OF good citizenship sustain to
great public questions and the
right conduct OF popular govern
ment.
Urban life has become cos1no-
politan and complex and the
stern, homely virtues taught and
practiced by our fathers appear
to be forgotten. This is not so
generally true of rural commun1-
ties, yet it is true to a greater or
less extent of our whole people.
There is not less virtue, nor
integrity nor patriotism amoug
the people now than fifty or sixty
years ago, but society has become
vastly more complex i'll compost
ton, in pursuits and achieve
ment.
Governmental processes, too,
have passed under similar cond1-
tions. Without any radical
change in our organic law, those
charged with the conduct OF the
government must meet and solve
far reaching and complicated
questions of governmental pow
ers, policies and procedure.
The mighty impetus of our de-
velopment has carried us away
from the old landmarks and we
have lost sight of many OF the
safe and honely maxilns which
should control our individual life
and determine our relations to
the political government we
have instituted.
There is a strong tendency tc
overlook the individual. Ou1
form of government contemplates
the mass of men in its purpose
and methods. We are thus fa'
miliarized to think of men il
mass.
We frame our educationa
agencies largely in this view
Our moral and religious instru
mentalities are directed upon the
masses. Individual identity /:
virtually destroyed. The indi
vidual presently concludes tha
he is no part of the government
and is only remotely considered
by educational, moral and religi
Gus agencies. He comes to re
gard these as wholly extraneous
or almost, concerning him only a:
an exceedingly small part of the
whole, and therefore of no inter
est to him. A step further, ane
he regards some, possibly all o
these, as constituted and conduct
ed, inimical to his individual
interests,
Whether or not this explains
the careless indifference will
which many men view their prl-
vate and public duties, remain:
true that multitudes are iudiffer
ent 10 the formation of their OWL
character on lines of industry
frugality, integrity, justice ane
righteousness, and that it is theil
high privilege and duty as wei
to 1ntuSe these CHARACTERISTICS IN
to the conduct of public govern
ment in all its relations.
Though it requires the repeti
tion of the most elementary
truths and principles, though
they may sound as mere plati-
tudes, Americans, and especially
young men need to keep Ameri
can ideals and purposes constant
ly before them. They need tc
be reminded that government i:
but a means, not an end; that
the ends of national life rest up
on the individual citizen and are
reached only along the paths ane
by the practice of those homely,
rugged virtues which were ST
characteristic of the men whe
founded the government.
The president is stirring
thought on wholesome lines ano
deserves the conmendation of al
patriotic citizens.
SHOULD INCORPORATE.