The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-08-27
Thursday, August ~, zoos.
STR ANGE IDEAS.


We have read with much interest the
speech delivered by Governor Woodruff
10 the good people of the town OF He
bron and It has set us wondering II our
chief executive has been wasting hil
time lately reading the records OF coll
onial times, when men were moved to
meet in secret and plot that their chill
dren might enjoy the blessings OF poll
teal freedom. He certainly has not
been reading current political history,
which Is made In Connecticut as far
from the cruclble of political liberty aa
cunning men have been able to carry 1t.
Governor Woodruff says that the
citizen must be the commonwealth
We take that to mean that the citizen
must think and act for himself first
and then, by Joining with others who
think the same way, develop a major
ity which shall rule. The older ceme-
terlcs of the state contain the remains
OF men who carried that thought with
them when they were awake and slept
with It when night had fallen but their
headstones are neglected and the grass
needs moving on their now hattened
graves. Where did Governor Woodruff
get the notion that the ways Of the
fathers are the ways OF the sons?
witty college professor once reminded
his students that the study Of history
was essential to the understanding Of
men and things, but that an attempt to
relive it might impose fearful burdens
upon the soul. Does his excellency
propose to make us swallow any such
doctrine as he set before the overfed
people of the state? Who finally is the
citizen who has become the common
wealth? Does he live In Litchfeld
county or where?
But here Is evidence that Sovernor
Woodruff has not confined his studies
OF ancient history TO that one observa-
ton. He also said in his Hebron adj
dress: 1.-THE will of the people must be
the law of the state" Not that the
will OF the people ought to be the law
of the state; not that It would be de-
sirable to have the people record their
Views which In turn should become the
law, but that the will of the people
must" become the law of the state. II
is perfectly useless to argue with a
man, even though he happens to be a
good governor, who talks In such old
fashioned language No wonder he
passed on to this observation as he de.
veloped the theory of government
which has ceased to be In good reputt
in Connecticut: "A few politicians con.
trolling delegates and debating the
action Of conventions Is not popular
government" We are led to wonder
II that would be better described as
tradition, which Is the explanation most
frequently given when ordinary citiz
ems have the impudence to dwell upor
current politics.
One assertion in the governors re-
markable address gives us hope ant
leads us to believe cautiously that per
haps he is himself the advance agen
Of revival OF obsolete political man
ners, which are none the less sound be
cause they have been abandoned 1t !!
this: yet no matter what the conven
ton may do, we will have public opin
ion to reckon with and public opinion
Is excited at this time. 1t Is aroused
and excited to such degree that n
man can hope for election unless h
inspires confidence among the people.
Has this opinion filtered down througI
to the inner chamber OF the Republi
can organization? Or is that body sti
of the contemptous opinion that tn
people no longer nominate? Plainl
Governor Woodruff Is not man to b
tolerated. A man who goes aroun
preaching the doctrine OF self-govern
ment in the state of Connecticut ougll
to be thrown out of the office he 6
otherwise honors. In fact the NOR
the governor talks the more apparer
It becomes why he was keehauled
year and half ago, and man select
ed for his successor who Is without
platform which has to do with stat
interests.
Governor Woodruff has become pc
litical undesirable and unless he quit
telling the truth he will become a pc
lltical malefactor. The city Of Water
bury must be a gloomy place to live
these days.