The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-26
WORTH THINKING ABOUT.

WORTH THINKING ABOUT.
Mr.. Bryce, the British ambassador
to the United States. who was an In
terested spectator at the Republican
national convention, has offered few
comments and suggestions that are
worthy of attention. and especially
considering the high authority from
which they emanate. He was much
impressed with the evidences of sue
cessful democracy which he saw dis
played at that meeting, the nearness
of the government to the people and
the proof Of the 1atter's interest and
influence in directing governmental af-
fairs. AS he expressed it, the machin-
cry of the conventions as they exist in
this country is the most complete
recognition Of the rights of the people
to which any country has attained.
because the people decide at the cleo
lions not only who shall be their Off
Gals. but in the party conventions
they determine upon the men who are
put forward as the representatives Of
the parties.
This feature impressed Mr.. Bryce
with special force from the contrast
with the methods employed in his
country, where the people have moth
ing to say as to the choice of their
real rulers. the cabinet ministers. In
England the members of the cabinet
are nominally chosen by the king. but
his approval, or official designation of
them, is a mere matter of form. The
cabinet is really made up by common
consent of the leaders of the party
which carries the election, and neither
the king nor the people have any pow
err of initiative in the matter, although
mis- majesty may and sometimes does
exercise the veto power when minis
ter is put forward who is personally
to him. But even this pre-
rogative is rarely ever used, as was
evidenced by Gladstone's long and re-
peated rule as prime minister during
Queen Victoria's reign. although she
disliked him personally.
Another thing that struck the
scholarly and accomplished English
was the unsuccessful
efforts of the radical element
In and out of the Republican
party, represented in the fer
mer case by Senator LaFollette and
his followers, and in the latter by
Gompers and others, to insert
the thin edge of the wedge in the
platform with the ultimate design OF
carrying the party off it's long estab-
lished foundations and making it an
instrument of the radicals of revolu-
tion," as Senator Lodge aptly express
ed 1t, to overthrow some of the car
dinal principles of American govern
ment. The assaults of the radicals so
gravely impressed the English histor-
ian and publicist that he felt compell-
ed to utter this timely warning:
Let me express on behalf of every
who is proud that from
his country came those principles of
elf-government which you are apply
ing here, the hope that the same sense
of the pre-eminent Importance of
these cardinal principles
Of good government In the United
States may be an example to all other
and forever flourish and
abound"
This warning from the lips of a man
who has devoted his life to the study
of the weaknesses of human institu-
tions. and the rise and fall of ciliviza-
tons on account Of them, is we'll worth
the earnest consideration of every patri-
otto American. 1t comes with particu-
lar significance at a time like the
present one, when the cardinal prin-
ciples of good government are In as
much danger from well meaning but
short sighted reformers as from the
selfish designing class of politicians
who reck little whether the deluge fol-
lows their rule, just so they rule