The Greenville times., 1910-05-13
18TH ANNUAL NJ. |. O.A.
(AaT0RICAL CONTEST

takes in religion ana morals, in science
and commerce, in government End SO
eial or,ieg--and 10 press on in the light
85 experience TO the realization OF mob
Ter aims and brighter hopes ernbodies
the spirit Of reform
No reform is originally political; ev-
cry reform ultimately 50. The funda-
mental institutions Of society are the
social aud he economic The necessity
OF protecting and preserving the rights
of men ia these several relations, gives
origin and character 30 political insti-
tutions. As aecessions Of reform arise,
ard rs e}anges are wrought ont IN
these several spheres, these changes
naturally give color TO our political
practices, and leave their impress upon
our political institutions. Every abuse
Of which the people complain, has its
root IN some weakness of the iniivid-
uaI Hence, She rationel order of ra-
form, is that the movement begins with
iuaividuals ard eliminates in cores
ronding changes in their institutions.
So long as this obred is followed re-
form is a normal and moderate pro-
cess, and IT accomplishes its end with
out convulsing society or destroying
the integrity of social institutions. 1t
IS common fallacy OF reformers that
reform should begin with the state.
These orring men seek the aid of polit-
icd machinery, always with the inev-
liable result Of involving political in
stitutions in an enterprise which, from
the very nature OF things Is foredoom
ed to failure. Thus it happens that in
al history, periods of reform have beer
marked by most violent disturbances.
and more than once have people, zeal
ous for the right, wrecked their insti
tutions. and sealed forever the destin.
Of their state Herein consists the
menace Of reform--that in reversing
he normal order of procedure, by re
sorting t. the use of civil power to
institute reform, there is constant
danger of corrupting the ideals and in
stifations Of a people.
This was 50 in the case of Athens
when Cfslstbenes used the power OF
the state to effect a social reform
This power, at once abused, corrupte'
,.s popular assembly and marked tht
laa5nning Of governmental decay. Th'
decay of the Roman republic began
with the economic reforms of the Grac
mi. Their paternalisn proved distas
rrous The greater portion Of the pop
ulation were soon living at the cap
ital in vicious Incidence at the public
expensc. and insidiously fastening thf
destruction Of their benefactress, thu
invinci5lo empire In Germany, Mar
Tin Luther assisted by other brave
sririts. Attempted TO institute reforms
IN the Roaish church through the aid
Of civil power One hundred and thif-
fv wears of hloodshed and strife wss
faa result. Not only the church, but
tbc whole German empire was torn IN
10 shreds. the ideals of the people were
corrupted their political institutions
lgst. In France the people overthreW
the power Of Louis the Sixteenth, ana
rnade tAeir now state the organ OF re-
form. The q Reign of Terror foiiows
cd. and the equality of men as citizens
vas established by wholesale murder
and destruction of property. The peo-
nIa in their madness changed their IN
stitutions. and abolished the consery
a3ive customs Of the land. The churches
were closed. their treasures were con
fscafed the sabbath day was aboilshed
Christ was forgotten, God was denied
and the people revelled in license
unchecked by fear Of king on earth
or King IN heaven.
America has reached the age of re
form. Zealots, moved by workhy mo
lives. vet dominated by a spirit of icon
oelasm. are menaeing our free instltu
tions-the priceless development OF
hundred years They are obsessed by
the historic fallaey eff refo-mers-re-
versing the natural order of procedure