New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-07
Mr. REID's ADDRESS

NJ T-
sacL We are lntolerant believers in II Every
child learns 70 think that i is the best ~ The
|oE!o, nol Only Tor US but for all men Every
Genlegogue learns 70 below first from the cart
r2l MS unlimited, unquestioning certainrv Of
1hat superiority ana universal applicab ility.
an not here 70 dispute the belief-onlv to
osHne me racts about IL II our form Of Gov
ernEnent IS the best, Il cannot be so because Il
IS the cheapest On the contrary II Is one OF
me nosJ expensive II the world with more
pald -aNr-aAers than any other, higher salaries
generally for subordinates, though with very
unworthy scT1nping IN some Of the most i'm
porJa1r places. like the judiciary higher nav
on Government contracts, more lavish appro-
priatiors Tor internal Improvements, and the
costlest army IN proportion 10 number and
work. Our form Of Government cannot be the
best because II is the most efficient On the
oontra-y, IL is one Of the slowest in the world
The most complicated, curnbrous and limited
Our Foreign representatives have been again
and again Inundated by appeals from citizens
abroad whom we could rot or did not protect
against illpressmenr with our passports in
their hands into the military service Of other
countries. Every few years we are all hunail-
iated before the world because Of riotous out
1zses % -Ia-taAs' OF on CL!ileSt, OF on olleI
foreigners which some STATE has not sup
pressed or atcned for. and the Nation has no
adequate control Of. This very year there
could be found for I'VE months no power in the
state Of Pennsylvania or in the United States
% stop disorder and riot in the coal mines.
and finally that imperative work had 10 be
done by voluntary effort outside the constitu-
ttonal processes or authority of the high Office
that successfully interviewed.
our form Of Government is not the easiest 70
work On the contrary, IL requires, 10 keep II
running successfully. more public spirit more
study about candidates more time for multi
rudlnous elections local State and national
more Watchfulness of public officials and q
higher average Of intelligence than any other IN
The world; and no one has ever shown that with
out this alert and devoted public spirit, this IN
renting attention and this high average Of in
fslligence, IL could have achieved its best sue
'esses or could now maintain them. Some OF
our States repudiated their public obligations
and IL took vehement and long continued efforts
- get the oisgraceful action reversed Inc
whole country was convulsed for years IN the
struggle 10 prevent payment Of the National
Debt IN deprecated medium at hall price: The
greatest city on the continent fell under the al
most absolute domination Of vulgar thief We
had 10 have years OF strenuous eXeruon by the
Cluy's best men Of all PARTIES thousands Of
speeches and ten thousands OF columns OF news
yaper exposure-in fact the whole community
had TO be laboriously worked up TO a state. OF
excitement bordering on hysteria or epilepsy 10
get that thief put in jail and his gang turned
cut OF once Even then how long old the gang
stay out?
The men no formed this complicated and
6elicaUely balanced Government had no notion Of
the conceit prevailing nowadays about us uni
Tersal applicability, or even about universal
participation here IN its conduct In their day
the idea that Il could be applied 10 the so-caled
inferior races was foreign not only 10 their con-
VictiOns, but even their SpeCulatiODs- They
simply did not think OF the notion or fancy Il
worth talking about. They never dreamed OF
epplying our form Of Government 70 the native
races OF America and ss 10 The blacks, they
eZception-so uurhinka be II 70 the maj ority
that the blacks should be incuded-when they
Eolennly declared that all men were born free
Eno equal, and then went on calmly ouying ana
selling slaves and enacting fugitive slave laws
Just usual Not until 1865 was il even estab-
hshed throughout the United states that every
man black white, has the right TO sell his
TIVE labor, and in 1902, IN your State and in
rhine there we're still found great many per-
sons, including pitiful number Of exceptionally
ignorant OF emotional clergynen, and some peo-
lie called statesmen, who considered such a
ght On the part Of some white men so doubtful
that hey were not ashamed TO urge. for the
rake Of peace. and coal. that II should be sub
snittee 10 arbitration
Wei, IN spite Of these defects and Limitations,
ihls Government Of ours has. after all, accom-
pished in its short career very Respectable
work in the world. The magnitude and myriad
SIDED Development Of this work have been recited
ny many an eloquent voice ana pen, at nome
and abroad though nowhere more persuaslNely
s1d effectively than by an old citizen or Pitts
burg IN a book called Triumphant Denoc-
racy." That clear eye saw and proclaimed the
triumph sixteen years ago. Within only q year
or two the whole world has come TO recognize
the young Republic as the very Samson among
he nations which Mr.. Carnegie then depicted.
But Il the things we have been saying are SO.
= they have any foundation whatever. If our
'-oveTnnlent does in any measure have these de-
fscts then the old question OF the Philistines
canes Up with insistent force. Wherein lies its
Ereet strength2"
To the answer 70 that question ana the rea-
sons for the answer ] think II timely 10 ask
your consideration. II our form Of Government
= unusually expensive ana dilatoTy and liable
70 90 wrong without eternal vigilance and per-
petUal agitation: IL IL is often found so much
verse than other forms II executive efficiency,
a economy, IN promptness OF action, and in
ooacnuity OF policy. what makes it better?
The answer has become truisrn Its strength
les y the quality Of man II develops. The real
merit Is IN the machinery, but IN the skilled
indulgence absolutely required 70 frame and 10
YORK II; in the combination Of respect for au-
lncT1ty on the one hand, with training in indi-
Plcnal Initiative the other. which this work
rings out and which the Government has thus
'sr scrupulousIy and religiously guarded.
We brought the respect for authority from the
birthplace Of the Common Law and in proper
IN as harshness from its officers was resented
- Loe old home, in ike proportion the law itself
ks lnstinctiVely elevated into VerltabIe pillar
~ cloud BY day and Of fire by night in the
Alloerness Of the New World. We found the
individual initiative in the necessities Of IN
famed continent; were driven 70 IL, shut up 70
II az every turn-in the imperative beginning OF
oioerly self-governnaent al a thousand isolated
spots-ia TIE long protracted struggle with wild
aznde wild beasts and wild mens-tlll II became
ne Inheritance Of the race:-till under its slim
elus men found their solitary way through
.stsekless woods 20 make lonely oesS7Tlngs or
tlart frontier settlements across the Aueghenies.
through trackless prairies 20 possess the Mis-
tAslppi Valley. through alkall deserts 70 "rest
asF gold from the mountains ana az last
through the Sierras 70 scatter up ana down tae
enchanted shore OF the Paciflc- To such a CONT
..enlsl conquest of nature ana OF men nave
nose two traits OF the Fathers brought US
Their resuecf for minority and their widest free
-yn OF individual initiative. lnese' with tnS
otginsl vigor OF the stock, have MADE AfneEl-
,ss 49, what they are; and by eonsee s &c hass
.l-ae this blessed country OF ours the JOY ana
tIlQe and hope OF our lives. TO Marin either Is
Ntlnninal-Whether to break down respect Tor
~etnority by unlawful combinations. ulchy
tsasiona and open defiance Of order. or 20 eEafflp
ne widest freedom OF the indlvioua! N any
awful enterprise or labor snywhere' Wnoeses
permanent union OF these two traits ana tneir
e'nunued Development IN the American me- Is