The Record. (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1902-1904, 1903-07-24

ling. BY the power of the machine
| do not mean the mechanism or the
machinery of political parties, but that
pernicious factor in politics which en-
abes .sbossesp TO hold whole districts
of voters in the palms of their hands,
a system which is akin to the buying
of votes. If this machine were of
mechanical type we might knock it to
pieces with an axe or blow it up with
dynamite or giant powder. But as it
is intangible, we must simply smash 1t.
If we would be men we must wipe
out every machine in every political
party, we must wipe out this blot upon
our political system, and again let the
voice of the people stand uppermost.
That is real, true patriotism to strive to
attain which Is the duty of every one
of us. And If we would do still better
we must provide for more liberal
education for the children of America.
II has been truthfully said that gen.
erous education is the birthright Of
every man and woman in America,
and every child has the right to de-
mand at least a thorough public-school
education. Such an education Is the
real fortress of our liberties, the real
defense ef our institutions, the hope of
the race in its evolution toward the
highest ,culture and civilization. I'VE
want more real and lalsting enthus-
iasm, deeper and grander consecation
to the high mission which is before
US" BY sound public opinion, by
education, by energy, and by de-
termination to do right whatever
be the cost and whatever be the sacri
fice, we can and will solve all problems
to the honor of ourselves and ito the
glory of the whole world.
To us of the West, the lessons which
apply to the whole country are peculi-
arly significant. The West is still in
its infancy and is yet to be moulded
into form. Our mines have produced
millions of dollars in gold and silver,
and yet we have only just begun to
open up the bowels of the earth and
bring forth to the light the hidden
treasures. Thousands of cattle, sheep
and horses dot the prairies whereon are
also homes for many happy families,
and still we have but commenced to
turn these desert lands into bloom
ing fields. The tread of civilization
and progress has been steadily west
ward, so that saying, Westward the
star of empire turns its wayn has
come to be truthful byword, famil-
lar reality. The West is land of bril-
liant promise, untold riches and un-
limited possibilities. 1t is even now
the hope of the nation and it will
shortly be the backbone of the nation.
Upon its welfare depends our.own in
dividual future and the fate of the
whole country. Men of the West, how
will you face such an outlook, that
Is the question which is just now so
important from both patriotic and a
practical standpoint | ask..you, dare
you abuse such II grand opportunity?
We have already passed out of the
shadow of the nineteenth century and
are well entered into the twentieth
century, Past centuries have witness
ed great and noble deeds and have had
great men living in them. But the
twentieth century will have greater
and nobler deeds to witness, will pro-
duce greater men, and will surpass by
gone centuries in art, literature and
science. Everywhere about us, in the
phenomena of nature as we'll as in
the handiwork of man, do we per-
ceive the grandur of the twentieth
century, the wonders of this time. AS
the twentieth century will give more,
SO will it expect and demand more.
Only those who show themselves
worthy will reap the rewards. Success
will require earnest and energetic work.
The increasing force of competition
will make the law of the survival Of
the fittiest more apparent than ever,
and that law will crush the unfit and
the Incompetent with more relentless
furry than ever before. The time for
natural forces to be merciful is past,
i for all time. These, then, are the
obstacles which the Western man Of
twentieth century must meet and over
come, these are the responsibilities
which are placed upon his shoulders.
Such task will not frighten the wide,
awake, strenuous Westerner of this
golden age, but he will respond with
a vim which will make him a worthy
member of a patriotic and liberty-lov-
ing people. For my own part, | am
glad you have hardships to meet and
work to do. | should be sorry for you
and for myself too if you did not. We
rejoice in having before us a greater
task than even our forefathers had in
perpetuating the union. And we are
DrOud that we have the hiph nriviIaoe