The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-06-20


which our forefathers in their turn.
sacrificed their lives, their fortunes
and their homes. 1t would be the
height of folly If we now, through
sheer sloatA, inattention and neglect
should allow the very foundations up
on which these institutions rust, to
crumble and decay. That such will
be the case, is not to be greatly fear
ed, for always hitherto before sucn a
time has arrived, the people have at
last become saturated with the truth
and have risen up to assert their
rights 1t is regrettable, however,
that so many of our people do not
pay attention, day by day, to what
is going on about them and SO avoid
abuses as they appear, instead of wait
ing until they grow to proportions tnat
require extraordinary efforts and sac
rifices for their correction. Were we
more attentive to details, and less
good natuedly oblivious of the schemes
and deceptions of unworthy politicians
our political history would not be
such series of crises as is now the
case.
1t is doubtless true that in great
crises the real stuff of which the av-
erage man is made manifests itself
more surely than in the weary hum
drum of everyday life. The manly
virtues are more clearly apparent
wnen a great necessity for their exer-
else arises, through an overpowering
and imminent danger. (This is unfor
tunate IN some ways. but perhaps
no more can be expected) Whenever
American manhood has been called up
on to meet and overcome an impend-
ing national calamity, it has not been
called upon in vain. No people in the
world respond more quickly. when
thoroughly aroused. to the necessity
of action. If there is anything for
which we, as a nation, can be CRITICS
ed. it is our lethargy in time of
peace-not in the way of material ac-
tivity, for no people are more active
and persistent in their efforts for ma
terial advancement-but in regard to
the political and economic dangers
and abuses which surround us. 1t
takes a stupendous pressure, some
times, to make us see the truth, en-
veloped as it is, by all sorts of clever
and specious qualifications, built up TO
hide it from our all too willing ildif-
ference. If often seems as though, in
the ordinary course of events, we were
glad to be deceived: that the bubble
of insincerity and hypocrisy is filled
with such fascinating irridescence
that we have not the courage to prick
it until it bursts of its own accord.
With many OF us the sayholds good:
fast
To some dear falsehood, hugs it to
the last"
AS nation we are such lovers of
peace, that we often allow the control
of our affairs to lapse into the hands
of men who by no means represent the
best elements in the community; men
who in great crises would be the last
to offer active aid or effective solu
ton.
1t probably takes just as much or
even more courage and self-denial for
an intelligent man to make up his
mind to take part in the battles of
peace as it does for him to go into
the battles of war. They are thank
less and inglorious, and under the sys-
tenn of what is commonly called "prac
tical politics. generally prevailing in
this country, often lead to little else
than individual disappointment and
disgust. There is little
chance for reaching those SUBMITS
of glory and fame which through ac-
cident, self-assurance, physical brave
ry. aid less often through really wor
thy deeds of conspicuous merit, come
to the soldier on the battle
field. You cannot enter the field of
politics with any hope of accomplish
ing more than your personal ends,
with that spirit of careless bravado
or with a lurking feeling that you are
about to embark on a strenuous holi-
day which sometimes characterizes
the soldier as he goes TO war. If you
really are to accomplish anything in
the end. you must go into politics with
the same spirit of impersonal and
wholly unselfish patriotism that inspir
ed the men of the revolution and the
civil war, who did what they did from
a real conviction that they were fight
ing for a just and holy cause, and ne
yer thought of Dragging over their vic
tories 1t is grim unsociable and
often unpleasant task-simply hard
work against serious and sometimes
odds. But it is by no
means a work which conscientious
and energetic men, with sound princi-
pies and right ideas, should shun, nor
is it a work which IL persevered in.
will not accomplish great results. 1t
is, indeed. not difficult to succeed in
1t If you are willing to adopt the ad
vice of those temporizing and urbane
people who are ready to compromise
and equivocate when any really vital
principle Is involved. / am reminded
In this connection, of q very clever