Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-01-04

things. AS seismic CONFUSION
causes continent to appear above the
broad surface of the ocean, so is the
structure of constitutional liberty and
popular suffrage rising mid the
wrcckage of Russian absolutism.
The old year has also witnessed a
remarkable transformation in govern
mental conditions in our own land.
That period has seen the disappear.
ance of the boss system of party gov
eminent as we knew it in so many
states that it is allowable to hope that
the people will never again allow
themselves to become so absolutely
the creatures of self-appointed party
czars as they have in the past quar-
ter OF century. The Plats and the
Durhams and the Coxes have gone the
way of the unrighteous, and every
where former servants OF the political
boss are loudly acclaiming more rule
for the people themselves.
1t is not to be forgotten. however,
that the wholesale overthrow Of the
party bosses is the direct result of an
other movement in government, name
~, the reinstatement of the honest man
in public service For long time the
honest man saw dishonesty flourish
ing in different departments of the
governmental service and haunt itself
in the faces of champions of honest
government but President Roosevelt
administration uncovered the hiding
places and caches of the plunderers
whether in the land department or in
the postoffice service or elsewhere
whereat the honest man began to sit
up and take notice. He was encour-
aged to raise his voice against dis
honesty in politics just as he had seen
President Roosevelt strike at the dis
honest man in public service, and
through these combined influences the
boss was driven out of his strong
hold.
The government of corporations has
been made the subject of an investiga-
tion under either state or federal
auspices not unlike that which was in
stituted in connection with various
departments of our national govern
surance magnates and the financial
autocrats who took advantage of ex-
listing conditions and legislation tc
eXtort from the common people, have
been taken to task, and some of the
most powerful extortioners have al
ready been driven out, while others
are facing the prison door. Much
remains to be done, but already the
honest man has begun to behold the
glory of the return of honest ser.
vice by both public and semi-publit
agencies.
The year Of 1905 witnessed the applica.
ton of the turbine to one of the gian,
Igreyhounds of the ocean. 1t saw the wire
less telegraph carried to a point of per
lection which has robbed old ocean o
many of the terrors of navigation. II saw
turtles, realized by an intrepid Norwegian
1t saw medical science and surgery ant
sanitation carried to a point never dream.
ed OF before. 1t saw great railroads dir
under broad river beds and push on into
the American metropolis, making an isl
and as part of the main land. It saw
Manhattan honeycombed with complete,
tunnels. and the subway become even
more animated than the street surface Il
saw the practical completion Of the grca
subway system Of the British metropolis
whose projectors life went out almost a.
its close. II saw the Simplon tunnel, tn,
longest in the world, inauGurated by tn,
passing of trains from the Swiss and Ita
ian sides. 1t saw telographic communca
ton around the world, a distance of 800
miles, tested at Washington in seven sec
onds of time. The old year saw progress
to an unsual degree in every department
of learning and scientific investigation an,
in the field of literature and the arts.
As great as were the worlds achieve
nents during the year just closed, the yea
upon which we have entered promises t.
be still grander cycle OF progress ait
consummation. The noblcr impulses O
this season will carry us on to still NOR
far-reachng plans OF public and privat
philanthropy. of more exalted purpose
OF higher living. 1t is to be year of tire
lmendous progress in the field of electric
| ity, and particularly in the application o
electric propulsion to our great iron high
ways. 1t will see a still further revolu
ton in ocean crossing, as regards meth
DDS and speed. 1t will sec substantial
progress made in ariel navigation. IT vii
witness the contamination of the plans O
| he Roosevelt administration to rob of thei
power the monopolistic combinations. !
sion will be prolonged international peace
1t ought to mean more for us as race a
a nation rs commonwealth. as a mu
Inicipality as individuals than any pre-