The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-02-10

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 ical parties but what is freighted with
 the destinies of human beings, The
 policy of government, whatever it may
 be, powerfully affects the fortunes and
 happiness of the masses.
 Take the financial question. A cer-
 tain financial eXpedient was proposed,
 known as the free and unlimited coin
 age of silver at fixed ratio to gold.
 According to one party this meant pam
 ic, Reorganization financial distress of
 multitudes of Workingmen, repudiation
 of just obligations, national dishonor.
 According to the other side, it meant
 good times, contentment, prosperity
 without loss of honor, Panic, repudia-
 ton, prosperity, honor dishonor-these
 are portentious terms, and how could 8
 Christian man be content to cast his
 vote before he had carefully studied
 the issue and come to an intelligent
 judgment? These are edge tools. Let
 us examine them with care in order that we may grasp them by the handle and not by the blade.
 So with the question sometimes re- ferred to as imperialism Are we really departing from the principles of our government or are we spreading them? Are we trif1ing with our constitution, or are we respecting it? Is our pur- pose in the Philippines benevolent or selfish? Are we checking the course of people long enslaved and thrilling with aspirations of liberty, or are we advancing it? It is not my place here to hint at the answer
 Whatever your views upon these and all important issues, whether upon the national state or local stage, you should try to impress them. Your business is in the caucus and at the polls.
 An important convention is now being held in Hartford, and yet there are hun dreds of Christian men who think noth- ing and care nothing about it. I heard a man of wealth and influence in cer- tain directions say only yesterday that he did not know anything about the questions before that convention, and that he had not time to look them up.
 I appeal to you to consider the inn portance of the constitution. It is the anchor of the commonwealth. Without it our Ship of State would drife in the fickle breezes of party politics. Legis- latures change. What one enacts an- other may repeal. Officials come and go. But one thing stands like a rock in the midst of shifting sands, The constitution points a steady finger and declares to every legislature and every tribunal and every public servant, Thus far shalt thou go, but no far ther"
 But if it is an inestimable blessing to have a constitution prescribing certain fixed lines which public acts may not transgress, it is imperative that the lines should be rightly drawn.
 When you study the present consti- tuition you may find yourself convinced that it's scheme of representation is un fair Population has massed in certain towns and decreased in others, so that to- day there is a town of less than nine ty voters which has double the repre- sentation in the house that another has which contains 1000 voters, and the same that our largest city has, which is the home of more than 21 900 voters. Whatever judgment you make upon facts like these ought to be made, not from the standpoint of inhabitants of a large town who want to increase their power and privileges or of inhabitants of a small town who want to retain theirs, but from the standpoint of un- selfishness, honor and justice We must remember that ours is a government of the people.
 It has been sagely remarked that you can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but that you can't fool all of the people all of the time, and I predict that if the present convention does not give relief to the absurd conditions which exist in our state the people will speak with no uncertain sound in the near fu- ture.
 Now, before passing the last division of my subject I want to say I am pleas ed to note the interest taken in the matter of the water contract for the city. That is important, and the agi- tation is bound to do good. But the people are only half awake on that sub iect.
 I have no sympathy with many of the attacks on,the Water company, but l that corporation should give us pure water at reasonable rates or relnquish ] its rights to the city. The health of the | is more important than div | dends on Watered stock.
 It is your duty to know something of l -he laws which affect the well being of | your community. When you have be- come interested in their study you will ind that you can both aid in their en- 'orcement and bring pressure to bear or the enactment of better laws In- crest in the laws will awake interest | o know how officials, elected to admin ster law, are conducting themselves They are your servants, and you have right to watch their acts and to give our approval or disapproval.
 Further, it is your privilege and it is ,our duty to be, each one of you, a per- onal incentive stimulus, spark of en- rgy for law enforcement. However ngrossed a man is in his business, he annot excusably withdraw himself rom all interests of a public nature. Active philanthropy, active patriotism, ctive civic pride and interest are de- handed of all Never forget that as american citizens you are born to high i rivileges, rights and powers. The law not the exclusive property of lawyers, udges and officers; it is yours. The NV itself expects participation of citi- ! ems in law enforcement It makes revision that you may complain when ffenses are committed, calling the at- antion of prosecuting attorneys and