Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-30
THE GOOD oE 10 ALL,

These are history-making days.
Seldom since the Genesis of the Amer
lean nation was written in the phrases
of the Declaration of independence has
there been such an important period
as the present one. 1t is important
because the United States government
or more properly the people that COM
pose that government are discussing
and settling questions of self-govern-
ment that concern them vitality and
concern just as vitality the future of
their country. Some scoffers. and there
must always be scoffers just as there
must always be leaders, affect to be-
lieve that this not the peoples nation,
but no more pointed denial of their
theory could have been given than
that contained in the election returns
that came recently from Philadelphia
and New York. These important
questions, like all that are worthy of
consideration, have each two sides
and there are honest differences of
opinion among the men who make the
nation as to the right or wrong of
these different sides. The leaders of
the two sides of each question, politi
clans either by choice of by the force
of circumstances, discuss them intelli
gently, bringing to their discussion in
formation gained by research and ex
pertinent. The people weigh the
arguments Of both sides and when the
time comes to vote they choose be
tween the two and vote accordingly
casting their ballots for the man who
represents the side they consider the
wiser.
Some may say this is the ideal def
milton of republic, but it is true that
it is the real definition of the Ameri
can republic. There are exceptions, q
course, in the persons Of men who
either because of ignorance or careless
ness, allow themselves to be in
4 fiuenced by an offer of money or some
other reward to vote as someone elst
chooses, but there are very few mer
judgment of what is best for the ma
tion as 9, whole.
The obvious solution of the prob
) lem presented by the existence O
these exceptions, then, is to educate
the voters, the great mass Of the mel
of the nation, to an intelligent under
standing of political questions. This
is what the leaders are for. This il
what they are doing, slowly but surely
Never since the American nation be
came large enough to make corrup
tion has there been such al
awakened public conscience, and it Il
well that the agitation be kept up lont
enough for the people to realize tina
they are truly the rulers William R
Hearst, whether he knows it or not
is paying for great many Of tn
disreputable acts of his journalistic ant
public career by pushing the investiga
ton of the New York election, because
he is bringing to the notice Of tn
public corruption that has existed II
New York's Tammany organization 70
many years.
The present conditions do not meal
that party organizations and partie
themselves have ceased to count TO
anything. They mean that just now
at time when nc national question
is to be settled by any election to b
held until 1908, is the best time TO
the people to hold a sort Of inventory
to learn the exact value of individual
citizenship and the franchise. TIL
lesson has been long time in con
ing and consequently it will have q
temporary effect upon party lines i
some localities. but for the genera
good of the nation nothing better coul
have happened and no better tim
could have been chosen for it's hal
pening,