The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-02-20

ment for the empire, and one for each
of the states composing 1t. Yet, he
is satisfied because he Is allowed to
do anything he pleases so long as
his action does not conflict with the
rights of others to do as they please,
or with the prerogatives of the crown.
When America attained her freedom,
she won for all civilized people their
personal liberties; and in a monarchy,
like Germany or England. the first
effort to curb that personal liberty
would result in the people striking at
the most conspicuous manifestation
OF the power that restraints them
the crown.
Then what do they lack? Equality
of opportunity, the thing toward
which this country is striving in every
epoch of its development.
When the fathers entered upon
the Revolutionary war. they were not
fighting for personal liberty, because
they had been offered greater liberty
and immunity from taxation than
were enjoyed by the citizens OF Eng
land, IL they would remain as colon
lists. They surrendered more OF per-
sonal liberty than they gained, whep
they entered on that conflict. Sacri-
fee and service were their contribu-
tions to the cause of humanity. and
when they emerged from the conflict
victorious. they had earned. not
greater liberty, but greater RESPONSE
bilities.
Is IL not plain? They emerged
sovereign citizens, and our German
friend might recall the fact that a
private citizen of Germany enjoys
greater personal liberties than does
the sovereign, who must on all oc-
casions, as he was recently sharply
consider the empire first
In his every act and word.
So II is in this country. Sacrifice
and service are demanded of citizens
who must surrender their personal de-
sires for the welfare of the whole
There is no real loss; there is no sur
render OF anything OF value demand
ed of the sovereign citizen. Moreover
we would recall to the mind of our
German friend, that these are volun-
tary. And the native born American
citizen, reared under American influ-
ence, unconsciously. perhaps. but
none the less voluntarily, makes
sacrifice he deems necessary
for the benefit of his country.
The European lacks the American
conscience.
The European has not the Ameri-
cans consciousness OF personal re-
sponsibility for the integrity of the
nation. In an American election
the average voter does not consider
what is best for his personal inter-
ests. but before the election day he
is positive that unless his party wins
the nation will be disrupted, and an
srchy and ruin be its portion.
In England thousands and thou
sands OF acres of land are going to
waste as preserves" on the estates
of the nobility. In England thousands
and thousands of people ere starving.
The Liberal government Is striving to
bring these estates under cultivation.
and enact laws to regulate certain
traffic. The nobility possess the es-
tates and own stock in the traffic to
be restricted. The house of lords
stands a solid barrier 10 the Liberal
program. What would happen with
such condition in America?
II was discovered that Senator
Foraker, who is one of the most able
men in the senate and In time past
has rendered really meritorious serv-
ice to the country, had accepted at
torney's fees from the Standard Oil
company to look after its interests I'm
Ohio, not in connection with legisla-
ton pending in the senate, and the
whole country was shocked. He was
retired in disgrace. Senator Mitchell
of Oregon. was sent to the peniten-
tiary for doing no more than the
members of the British house Of peers
are frankly doing.
When we discuss p bile questions
wildly and assert that the nation is
degenerating, we are n earnest and
apprehensive for our prescious charge
We are sovereigns, with the sover-
eign's prerogattves. the sovereigns
responsibilities and the sovereign's
self-imposed restrictions.