The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-02-24
FOLK APPEALS For
BETTER GRADE OF
CITIZENSHIP
SAYS REPUBLIC WILL SURVIVE
ONLY BY UNSELFISH EFFORTS
OF THOSE WHO CONSIDER THE
PUBLIC VEAL ALONE.

A simple direct and forcetul alp
peal for better citizenship was made
by eXGov. Folk, Of Missouri, IN his
lecture, An era of conscience, Civ
Ell in Simpson NJ. T.. church. Tuesday
evening. under the auspices oil the
Tull Bible class His words carried
conviction and seemed to make a
deep impression on his hearers, for
there was much food for thought III
his remarks. Throughout the address
he emphasized the fact that good cit
liens are unoDtrusive, while the bad
element is persistently and pernicious-
~ active.
The people, the average voter, you
and |, are responsible for the future
OF the government he said. If the
American republic is TO survive it
must be saved By the efforts OF the
patriotic citizens who want nothing
for themselves but the advantages
that will accrue from the
general public veal. Ii the public
learns To appreciate this, learns To
know the dangers that threaten our
future, and learns the strength that
rests with the voters. the future of
this government is assured.
Il am not an alarmist, and / do
not believe that the United States OF
America will cease TO exist as re-
public today nor tomorrow. We have
lasted 1873 years-a long time when
compared with the average period of
one mans public activity, but short
in the history of nations. Venice had
republican form OF government for
1000 years; Carthage endured as a
republic for 700 years, and Athens
lasted 900 years though there were
intermissions during that time. Flor
ence was republic for 800 years and
Rome for 500
I'VE are likely TO believe too strong.
ly In the efficacy OF laws. Rome had
the Justlnian code-sdid to be the
most perfect system of laws ever de.
vised by man-so good that they are
models 10 this day And yet--Rome
rotted and went 10 ruin even while the
Justinian code was in full force. The
hearts of the people were wrong. The
laws were there, but they were not
obeyed and contempt OF the laws
sprung up that ended the Roman EN-.
pire.'
The speaker made an extended ref
erence TO the conditions existing In
st. Louis before he, as prosecutor
went after the boodlers with sharp
stick and brought them 10 book He
told how one of the guests at a ban
quent given in st. Louis some seven
years ago, and attended by the lead
ing business men, had said, with tears
streaming down his cheeks as the
band played America" "Oh, that |
could die for ny country
Just three weeks later" he went
on. this man was cringing at the
feet of justice confessing that ne had
bribed an entire municipal assembly
to pass a railway franchise bill He
was willing To die for his country. but
by his conduct he had shown that he
was unwilling TO live for his country.
he aspired to be a patriot Of war and
was traitor OF peace"
When the prosecution OF the brio
ers was begun. Mr.. Folk said, the
Doodlers tried TO Justify their acts on
The ground that inasmuch as b!ibes
had been taken from time immemor.
ial and nothing that ever been said
snOtt u ,ney mad acquired the rich:
to accept them, and that IL was prop.
CT ior ,nem TO sell their votes as II
was for a merchant TO sell his wares
Mr. Folk look issue with Gov. Fort
OF New Jersey, who in WASHINGTON
birthday speech. advocated a life ten
ure for the president of the United
States. The election of preside n,
for life would, in Folks opinion. ID
the hrst step toward an empire