The Detroit times., 1910-06-14


cal truths which will hereafter nomi.
nate the nation as the mere meaning
less babble OF political infants. They
have grown old In the belief that
money has the right TO rule, and they
can never understand the point or
view or the men who recognize In the
corrupt political activity of a railroad
or trust most dangerous kind or
treason to government by the people.
When party leaders go wrong II re-
Quires high sense OF public duty. true
courage. for man in politics to take
his future In his hands and stand
against them.
The black shadow OF party regular
ity has passed away from the public
mind. II Is great deliverance. Men
no longer ask whether q policy IL good
Republican or good Democratic doc.
trine. Now they ask whether II 10
honest, and whether Il will help to
give every man a fair chance. II 1t
VIII. II Is good, no matter who pro-
posed II. II II will not, II Is bad, no
matter who defends It.
II Is a greater thing to be a good
citizen than TO be a good Republican
or good Democrat
The great gulf OF division which
strikes across our whole people pays
little heed to fading party lines. Tho
vital separation Is between the par
tsans OF government by money for
profit and the believers In government
by men for human welfare.
When political parties come to be-
badly led, when their leaders lose
touch with the people. with their OBJ
ject ceases to be everybody's welfare
and becomes somebody's profit. 1t Is
time 10 change the leaders.
A. new life Is stirring among the dry
bones OF formal platforms and artificial
issues. Morality has broken into poll
| tics.
Political leaders. trust-bred and
trust-fed, find It harder and harder 10
conceal their actual character. The
brass-bound collar OF privilege has
become plain upon their necks for all
men TO see.
Does any man suppose that the bulk
OF our people are anything else but
progressive? II such there be, let him
ask the young men In whose minds
the policies Of tomorrow first see the
| light.
| The people OF the United States de-
mand a new deal and a square deal.
They have grasped the fact that the
special interests are now In control OF
public affairs. They have decided to
take control OF their own business.
They insist that the special interests
shall go out OF politics or out of busi-
ness-one or the other And the choice
will lie with the interests themselves.
az hot ha
the people will suffer. IL wisely they
accept the inevitable. the adjustment
will not be hard. But one way or the
other, conform 1t must.
The overshadowing question before
the American people today is this:
Shall the nation govern itself or shall
the interests run this country? To try
to divert the march OF an aroused pub
lie by means of obsolete political
catchwords is like trying to dam the
Mississippi with dead leaves.
To drive the special interests out OF
politics is a vast undertaking. II they
resist. as doubtless they will. 1t will
call for nerve, endurance and sacri-
flee on the part OF the people. II will
privilege Is great But the power OF
Cui pcOplC 40 biSoSCi SNAhb oht ShSiA
steadfastness is equal to the need.
| II must be undertaken eoberly. car
ried out firmly and justly. and relent-
lessly followed to the very end. Two
things alone can bring success. The
first Is honesty In public men; the
second is complete publicity. To these
ends, many faithful public servants
must be retired, much wise Legislation
must be framed and passed, and the
struggle will be bitter and long. But
| 1t Will be well worth all 1t will cost,
for self-govexnment is at stake.
Our people are like a hive OF bees.
full OF agitation before taking flight
to better place. Also they are ready
to sting.
| From sea to sea the people are talk
ing a fresh grip on their own affairs.
The conservation OF political liberty
will take Its proper place alongside
the conservation OF the means OF liv-
Ing.
| What Is the conclusion of the whole
matter? The special interests must
be put out OF politics. believe the
young men will do It,