The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-05-16
SEES PERIL IN NATIONS PATH
Secretary of State Warns Yale Stu
dents that Great Changes May
Come.

Elihu Root, secretary of state, in
an address before Yale students at
New Haven, emphasized the growing
menace of socialism to the nation.
To counterfeit this peril he urged
constant vigilance in fostering pat
riotism and loyalty.
Secretary Root warned his hearers
that it was mistake TO assume that
the republic will endure for the fut-
ure. He said plainly that the people
themselves may decide to change
their form of government.
1--WE ire accustomed to fatter our
Selves" said Secretary Root, that
the great American experiment has
been successful 1t has, indeed, car
ried the demonstration of the popular
capacity of the people TO rule them
selves far beyond the point which
originally seemed possible to the en-
emies of the popular government.
The demonstration has produced an
effect upon the constitutional govern
ment throughout the civilized world,
| by the side of which the Roman do
minion sinks to an inferior place as a
perm anent forcs.
Nevertheless we must not delude
ourselves with the idea that the
American experiment of government
has ended or that our task is accom-
plished. Our political system has
proved successful under simple con-
ditions. 1t still remains to be seen
how it will stand the strain of the
vast complication of the life upon
which we now are entering. 1t re-
mains to be seen whether the DEM
| ocracy will be willing to continue the
present methods of government, or
whether, with their continually in
creasing realization of their own
power, the people will change the
old methods of government along
such lines as foreshadowed by the
proposals for an initiative and refer
endum-proposals that would substi-
tute direct democratic action for
Representative government. as repre-
sentative government was substituted
for absolute monarchical control.
Modern democracy simply has in
grated upon the old social system
the assertion of the right TO equal in
dividual opportunity, so that no bar
rier of birth, caste, or privilege shall
stand between any man and whatever
career his ability, industry, and cour-
| age entitle him to achieve The So
cialists, in no negligible numbers, de.
mand reorganiz alton of society up
on entirely different principles. Limi-
tations upon the right of private
property are widely favored Limita
tons upon individual opportunity are
still more widely enforced among al
that part of the wage workers who
believe in putting limit upon the
amount of work which each workman
shall be permitted to do. Common
benefit of property and a common
standard of exertion are liable to bt
substituted for all inequalities of for
tune and achievement.
after many centuries of struggl,
FOR the right of equality there is some
reason to think that mankind now i.
entering upon struggle for the right
of inequality.
at remains to be seen how democ
racy will work under these new con
ditions. The complication OF an in
terdependent life will put the power
of incalculable harm into the hand.
of so many men and combinations o.
men of different occupations that ;
realization of the common interest i.
absolutely essential to the working o
enforcement of law is inadequate /
is not the fear of the policeman OF
| the sheriff that keeps the peace in oul
many cities. 1t is the self-control o
| the millions of inhabitants.
mo one can tell when or where tn,
great new forces which are being de
ve1oped for the government by tn.
people will overcome the power o
common patriotic purpose that make.
possible combined national action
Our country is not safe in leavins
unused any possible influence and eff
fort toward the maintenance of patri
otto idealism and practical loyalty.