The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-06-16

kan 3: :: Is: =: &. i: !.
Atlantic to the Pa
cific ocean"
Yes, | read something about it in
one of the magazines observed Colo
mel Monroe. My newspaper has been
so crowded with accounts of highly in
tereSting murders and society scandals
that this item of Canadian news has
not yet been mentioned"
Come to think of it, l saw it In Il
Canadian paper" reflected the judge
There seems to be an overwhelming
public sentiment in that country in
favor of the scheme. l am surprised
that so radical a step should receive
such strong and respectable support. q"
I'VE are the only conservative people
now existing on the face of the globe
unless an exception be made in favor
of the Cbinese-and l am beginning to
have my doubts about the Celestials,"
said the colonel soberly. I'VE are not
even spectators of the great projects
and experiments which are under way
or in operation in other countries. We
are not even informed concerning
them. | don't suppose one American
citizen out of hundred knows or cares
that the Canadian government has for
years owned and operated thousands
of miles of railway and that it has
been the fixed policy of that govern
ment to extend its tracks across the
continent at the earliest possible OPP
portunity. The present parliament may
or may not authorize this work, but
it will be done when the proper time
arrives. You see, judge, the Canadian
people are not aware that the govern
ure. We are the only ones in the world
who have discovered that great Sc
cret"
Eve are the greatest people in the
world, all right" declared Postmaster
Jenkins, land we have the greatest
railroads in the world"
you are certainly in a position TO
make such a statement" said Colonel
Monroe, who reflected that not since
the Centennial exposition had jenkins
been fifty miles from Lincolnville.
1--WE should aim 10 live up to your
claim, but for one l am willing to adj
NIT that other nations show occasional
evidences Of a desire to progress.
What do you think of that Canadian
proposition, judge"
GAS you know, am opposed on
principle to the government ownership
of anything that can properly be con
Quoted by private enterprise" declared
Judge Sawyer. "That Is part of my
political religion. | hold that the gov
eminent should interfere as little as
possible with those activities which
have been developed by individuals.
Believing this, l am naturally opposed
to the proposition that our government
enter into the railroad business or any
other enterprise now controlled by pri-
vate interests"
you are entitled to such belief and
are in good company" observed Colo
mel Monroe. at Is very old and q
very respectable doctrine, though some
ascribe it's discovery to Thomas Jeffer-
son. In the last half century there has
been formulated another theory which
has many honest and earnest follow
ers, who hold that the government
should own everything that cannot
properly be managed by individuals
Personally l do not subscribe to either
Of the doctrines. 1t seems to me that
civilization is the result of taking ad-
vantage of experiments. Our constitu-
ton was a compromise between sew
eral theories and a lot of hard and
stubborn facts, and we have been ex-
perimenting with it ever since it was
signed. Now, you will admit that
there are some things which a govern
ment should own and operator"
Certainly 1 will" admitted Judge
Sawyer.
what, for instanceY
81 have no complaint to make against
what our government now owns and
operates" the Judge said after a pause
"In my opinion, it is well that the post
Office, the signal service, the agricul
tural department and similar institu
tons should be under the control of
the nation. Education should be fos-
tered by the nation, state, municipality
or district. 1t has been demonstrated
that these services can best be so con
Quoted"
"But suppose it became apparent
that the public administration of any
one of these was failure" asked
Colonel Monroe Suppose, for in
stance, that France or England aban.
doned control of the postal service and
by contract or otherwise secured from
private interests a much better one
would you not favor our government
taking a Similar step?'
Il should" answered Judge Sawyer