The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-01

no cross to carry in a matter which has
70 90 with the plain salvation of the very
institutions which have made him what
he is, is to declare an unspeakable alb
Surdlty, and there is no more imperativ
l'demand before our educational institu-
lions today than the demand that with all
the other things we teach we lay great
stress upon the matter of municipal and
national patriotism. There ought to be
in every school, in every college and uni
Verslty large course in municipal poll
tics, and it ought to be taught with moral
| earnestneSs that this country can not he
saved along any other line than along the
line of unselfish patriotic service at the
heart OF which is found the genuine love
of man for man.
THE necessity of non-partisan action in
all city affairs, the emphasis laid upon
the duty of giving loyal service to the
state for the love of country, the great
opportunity of making statesmen instead
of mere politicians and the insistence, as
Gladstone insisted upon it all his life, of
a moral standard by which to judge ma
tons as well as individuals-an this
should be part of one of the largest and
best courses in the schools of this coun-
try. 1 believe we are reaping today in
this great commonwealth which we love,
some of the direct fruits of the absence
of this kind of teaching in our institu-
Where do the machine men in politics
come from? They are part product of our
boosted school system. Most of them, I
think, have been through the schools in
one form or another. How much instruc-
ton did they have when they were boys
in the matter of pure politics and unset
fish patriotism? We have in this state
today and SO do they have also in every
other state in this union regularly or
ganized, in most cases splendidly equip
ped, organization of professional poii-
ticianS, whose main business in life is
not to serve the state as patriots, but 10
get the offices and reap the spoi1s, and
over against that intensely disgraceful
TACT stands also the no less diSgraceful
truth that hundreds and thousands of
men in our state and in every other state,
who have culture and education enough
to make them capable statesmen in pun
lie affairs are perfectly willing to spend
their days in making money or center
ing their affections or their enthusiasm
around a professional career.
One is almost tempted to ask at times
Have we any statesmen left in Kansas p
think we all believe in one another
enough to say that if some great emer-
gency were to arise in this state equal
to the emergency which brought on the
would suddenly appear to represent a
pure and loyal craftsmanship. But GER
tainly under the present condition of af-
fairs we can not boast very loudly of any
large number of men who are really at
heart lovers of the commonwealth more
than lovers of its treasury.
There is fortunately for us, a con-
slant moral sentiment in the state strong
enough to hold men once elected to Of
flee fairly within the bounds of common
that unmistakable acts of dishonesty or
dishonor on any large scale would rouse
the public sentiment to the point of
thrusting out of office those who were
unfit for it. But I believe the thoughtful
citizens of Kansas have moro or less
shame all the time at the thought of the
large number of small calibred politicians
who are in power in warriors ways AMI
who deal with the offices of the state as
a man would deal with cattle in trade or