Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-10-04
RADICAL. on CONSERVATIVE?

Americans have been regarded as
conservative in their governmental in,
stitutions. which they have changed
with only the greatest elaboration. 1t
Is therefore interesting to consider
whether or not they will change In this
respect. owing to the radical tendencies
of various national reforms In legisla-
t!oH, pending or proposed. 81
The line OF policy advocated by Mr..
Roosevelt will serve for an Illustration.
According to Mr.. Tsoosevelt's vigor-
Gus statements. the public opinion'of
the country Is now ready for Eoyurn-
ment supervision Of the capitalization,
not only Of public service corporations,
but of all corporations doing an In
,eretate business; for an increase in
the power of the federal bureau of
corporations and of the Interstate COM
merce commission to control commerce
and industry effectively; for gradu-
ated Income tax and Il graduated inner
itance tax. for the extension OF the
work of the Department of Agriculture
( so as to take In all phases OF life on
the farm; for a regulation OF the
terms and conditions Of labor
ny means of comprehensive work
mems compensation acts, state
and national laws to regulate child Ia
Dor and the work of women. tho en-
forcement Of better sanitary conditions.
safety appliances in indstry and COM
merce both in and between the states;
for an extension of the executive pow
er as the steward Of the public well
fare; and for more clear and GER
tain division of authority between the
national and the various state govern
ments.
1t Is sweeping program, and Its
proponents Justify Its radical aspects
on the ground that public opinion is
ready for these changes and Is de-
mhndlng them.
That the people shall ultimately rule
is a Fundamental principle in our theory
of government. Daniel Webster In the
Senate OF the United States on Jan. 81.
1884, stated that on the great questions
arising within the Republic. all men
must look for some decisive movement
OF public opinion. He added that while
T public opinion Is to be needed, 1t Is not
necessarily to be at once followed. His
words were:
Il Ion the great questions which occu-
by us we all look for some decisive
movement of public opinion, AS wish
that movement to be free. Intelligent
and unbiased. the true manifestation
OF the public WILL l desire to prepare
z the country for another appeal, which
4 perceive Is about to be made, to pop
ulnr pref attempt to OBJ
sclre all distinct views OF the public
good-to ,overwhclm all patriotism and
all enlightened sclf-interest by loud
cries against false danger and by ex-
citing the passions Of one class against
another. ] am not mistaken In the
omen: | see the magazine whence the
weapons az this warfare are to bt
drawn. hear already the din OF The
hammcring of arms, preparatory to The
combat. They may be such nrms,a per
haps. as reason, and Justice, and hon
est patriotism cannot resist. Every eff
~ fort at resistance, II Is possible, may b.
feeble and powerless. But. for one.
shall make an effort--nn effort to b.
begun now, and to be carried on an'
continued. with &untiring zeal, TIL tn
end of the contest"
Even In u republic, then. public opin
Ion should be ascertained to be tn
Il deliberate and reasoned Judgment o
the community before It can be i'm
plicitly obeyed b. the peoples repre-
sentntives, but then it should be i'm
plicitly obeycd and not resisted.
Mr.. Bryce, on the other hand. in hi
American Commonwealth, tells us tina
wesmust remember "how much is gain
cd as well as lost by the slow and hes.
tating working of public opinion In TIL,
5s}f United States He thinks that S,
trep~ = ~" force would be dangerous