New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-15
ROOT ON CITIZENSHIP
Defends Politicians and Criticises
Apathy of Toters.
tBy Telegraph to The Tribune I

New Haven, May H.-Elihu Root in continuing
the Dodge lecture course the responsibility Of
citizenship at Yale to-day rebuked the spirit of fault
finding and criticism, defended politicians from the
charge of being "a low Of fellows, with selfish
aims and practices and advocated government by
party as a necessity. He said in part
We have now reached point where the question
part in the government of his country? Given
young American who has just completed his
life and who wishes to do his full duty as a citi-
zen in maintaining and improving his government;
where IS ne TO begin and what Is he 10 do?
II Is plain that the true way TO begin active
elected or appointed to Once: that should always
b. a result rather than beginning of interest.
affairs of government. There are very few public
offices in comparison with the number of citizens
and at best only very small part of the young
men OF the country could enter into active gov
II You can imagine Sii tue sixteen hundred thou
sahd voters OF the STATE OF New lorK' Tor eX-
no previous concert Of action. but each determined
SEEMS 10 IllH lue pest 70 MI lhe poSltloh or iot
the man whose opinion most closely agrees with
What thousands OF names would be found upon
the ballots when they came to he counted! If a
majority of votes required elect. of
there would never he an election.
There are certain distinct and fundamentally OPP
posed schools Of thought and opinion, which range
9uTSLlo4S 'naonkh tohs series o. yearS ror eS
Of our national existence have been divided between
the advocates OF strict construction and the al
ton. This fundamental difference Of view has di-
vided the people of the country in a long series
Of successive elections upon many specific and
important questions: upon the power OF the ma
uOnal government to carry on internal improve
mcnts; restrict the extension of slavery 10 es-
tabliSh a national bank to charter Pacific rail-
reads. 70 maintain tariff for protection, as dis
tinEuished from a tariff for revenue only; To &C
qure and incorporate in the United States addi-
uOnal territory. to acquire and govern so-called
colonial possessions; upon the extent OF the power
20 regulate commerce, of the taxing power OF the
police power of the treaty making power
II Is true that in recent years some proteSsec
disciples of jefferson have advocated measures or
of the least government possible 10 regard Hamil-
ably temporary alterations The same division
between the two schools of Interpretation of the
Constitution still exists and in the nature OF things
must continue
We often hear remarks made which indicate an
inns cssOn that politicians rather low set or
fel as with selfish aims and corrupt pracuCeS,
who manipulate party politics for their own adVan-
tage and that the less self-respeCting gentlemen
have do with them the better IF that Is ever
the case, and IL undoubtedly is the case at some
times and in some places in such places pOhJicai
control is allowed 70 20 by default Such a condi-
ton OF political affairs is always due TO the fact
spirited. who would not prostitute party power to
personal advantage who would not make party
Organization corrupt combination to secure place
and profit, fail in the performance of their public
duty and permit the party organization which limits
and restraints tho exercise of their political power
remain in the hands Of unworthy and self seek
ing