The daily sentinel., 1909-05-26
GREAT LECTURE LAST
NIGHT BY GOV. FOLK

ana all the horses IN the world are
not worth the ruined life of one
young man. The public conscience
has ended this form of gambling in
our state, and it is assailing it in New
York, and in all other states where
it is still permitted"
Several other striking illustrations
We're made by relating experiences in
the conduct of Missouri and st. Louis
prosecutions
One of the most powerful portions
of the great lecture was that dealing
with patriotism. He declared that
up to six or eight years ago patriot
ism had been regarded by many peo-
pie as a meaningless word, TO be used
only in reference to war.
This is all changed now said the
speaker, 1--WE have learned that there
is a patriotism of peace as well as "a
patriotism of war, and that il is Just
as essential TO the welfare of our
country. Patriotism WAS once count
ed "a service TO ones country in time
of war. We till have men who are
willing to die for their country on the
battlefield of war. but who are not
willing TO live for their country in
time of peace. We want the patriot
now who will live for his country and
tor his countrymen. True greatness
the private citizen TO give this SER
vice as for the man in power and
authority. Corruption is due to the
malicious activity of the vicious mi
nority. A majority of the people are
good and mean well. There are sold
iers of peace Just as great, just as
patriotic, just as brave as any soldiers
of war"
Governor Folks declaration of his
belief that the vast, the overwhelm-
ing majority of the people are hon
est, was most effective.
Time and again Governor Folk
presented mighty thoughts that sent
wave of inspiration over every
thinking man and woman present.
His lecture was crowded with terse,
striking, important statements and
pointed truths were driven home in
most forceful manner
A few of the vast series of power
full truths uttered by this brainy
champion of the people, not already
mentioned above are as follows
''The public conscience says that
there is an embezzlement of power as
well as an embezzlement of money
and the public official who does not
live up 10 his duty and fulfill his
obligation is as much an embezzler as
the man who misappropriates the
funds entrusted to his keeping"
''The prisons may be filled with
corruptionists, and If the people are
Indifferent corruption Will continue.
As between penitentiary punishment
without publicity and publicity with
ont penitentiary punishment believe
the latter is preferable"
1.-THE downfall of republics is not
due to a lack of money, but to n lack
of morals"
''Do not fear TO fight II is better
to go down with right than to 90 up
with wrong"
"Reform sometimes die, but rev.
olutions never go backward. Out of
the darkness of night the world is
rolling into light"
''Some of the greatest men of our
nation have never held public office;
some of the smallest have"
In passing Governor Folk made
reference to the commission form of
government and the direct primary
law. he declared that while neither
was perfect they were improvements
over old systems and therefore most
acceptable, he stated that the com
mission plan is being adopted by
large cities throughout the country
and in a few years would be very
generally used by the cities.
In concluding his address Governor
Folk declared that under the era of
conscience the world will grow bet
ter from day to day, "The exposure
OF wrong doing in business and social
life do not show moral degenration,
but u moral regeneration. Even now
wealth, regardless of its source, is
not worshipped with the same devo-
ton that il used TO be. The question
now is, not how much one has, but
how did he acquire what he has
new standard has been established.
.In this era of conscience-the.
most important in the history of our
nation-Iet us maintain inviolate the
principle of popular self-government,
and recognize the largest liberty of
the individual citizen consistent with
law and order; unite in enforcing the
laws and in countcracting any at
tempt to defy them. Let us not array
one class against the other, but pre-
serve the rights of all by causing
each to respect the rights of the
other. Let us not seek as n remedy
for existing evils less democracy, but
more democracy; not more money,
but more manhood; not more cum
ming, but more conscience"
At the conclusion of the lecture
Governor Folk shook hands with
many local citizens, he was especially
glad he said to meet "Ex-Missour-
ians."
There is no question but what the
Folk lecture is one of the most bril-
liant and influential ever heard here.
Ii was a great but a typical talk by
great and remarkable man. Those
who heard the lecture and saw the
man will never forget the lecture or
forget the man.
Governor Folk was guest at the
st. Regis during his stay in the city.
He left at $50 this morning for