The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-29

1t is to recognize and admit the things
that are new. while not forgetting the
things that were dear to the fathers. I
shall not believe that the great volume
of legislation enacted by the last con-
gress was inspired by a blind zeal or
mere wanton lust of power. It had back
of it something higher and better than
these; an earnest desire TO deal with
conditions not always very well under
stood, and a conviction that the time
had come for doing something. And
the result is long list of laws which
have doubtless considerably and in
some cases unnecessarily increased the
''shrinkage," but have also given the
public an assurance that the machinery
of ciViliza ton is not to be left unWatch-
ed and unguarded in TIE United States.
All government is to some extent a com
promise; a giving and taking, barter
and an exchange. While seeing-be-
cause it seems to me that no one who
has eyes can fail to see-that we can
not have beWildering complexity in
all our affairs and al the same time
have perfeS1 simplicity in government
I do not close my eyes to the dark pic
ture on the other side of the page. In
all this turmoil, the whirl of machinery
governmental and mechanical the or
ganization of labor and Of capital the
throbbing of every pulse, and the strain
of it all, to brain and nerve-what has
become of the individual Man? Gentle
men, that is the hardest question which
the modern world has to answer. When
the shrinking process, which is neces-
Sarily involved in carrying on q highly
organized society. has reached a certain
stage it is time for legislators, and for
US ALL to pause-if we can. Has not
the time already come for serious
thought? The development of the state
and of the Institutions that collectively
compose It, is steadily proceedings, but,
how about the units2 After all, govern
ments are not instituted for themselves.
but to secure certain rightt. privileges
and blessings to the people who dwell
under them. It is a momentous oues-
ton for those who make the laws
whether, in charging and strengthen
ing the powers of the state, they have
not abridged and dwarfed the energies
and capabilities of the Individual citi-
zen. I have pointed out what seemed to
me to be the source of the increased
legislation which marks the present aR..
This legislation has not been the cause
of the tremendous activity of modern
times. but the result of it. It has been
inevitable; and. in the broad view
which such a subject demands has
doubtless been. on the whole, beneficial
But that it has incidental evils. no one
can deny. and I think no one can fail
to see,s who considers existing condi-
lions. There are doubts and misgivings
in the minds of thoughtful men. when
be- Does opportunity now knock once
at every gate? Does 1t or can It ap-
proach the gate If its right to do so is
regulated by statute: or by the order
of a union; or by a combination of can
ital; or by any form of repression?
have said and I do not doubt it. that
the enormous increase In the statutorv
regulation of human affairs in our coun-
try and everywhere. is the unavoida-
bic result of the scientific impulse thai
came half century or more ago to US
and to the entire world. Whether thai
impulse was for good or for evil. car
not vet be answered It has helped
and it has harmed: but on which side
1 of the ledger the balance will stand Al
the end. who can guess2 The presen
moment. with all its splendor, its full
ness Of knowledge. It's triumphs and IT
| promises. is hardly an ideal one. Per
haps If we had time to think of it "
should find message worth our heet
in those noble lines of Wordsworth
THE world is too much with US; late an
Getting and spending we lay waste gu
powers
We did not. perhaps, choose the ble1
and confusion of the life IN which y