Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-07-20

ton. But might be called pessi-
mist with an optimistic view. /
know that on such an occasion eu-
logy and ecomium and patriotic
generalities are usually made, and l
admit that they are entirely proper.
But ] think that the words of
Wendell Phillips are still true: 'Agi-
tation is the life-blood Of the repub-
lic.' Those eriticising our institu-
lions and government are not doing
an injury. II investigation Is con-
Quoted in good faith. they are doing
great service. Governments are only
mechanisms of the human mind after
all. Trained men overhaul and ex-
anime a railroad engine or a great
ocean liner. seeing that all Of It's
parts are in good working order, but
they do II to see that It will run right
on the next trip. So 1t is with inVestI-
cations of government. who should
examine our institutions. not to en-
barrass or dIseredlt, but to Improve.
Foundation Of Nation.
There are two great principles on
which this nation is founded. One is
that OF local self-government. This is
the most essential principle Of real
democracy, as 1t preserves the rights
OF the people to shape their own
laws and elect their own officers and
exercise all Of the privileges OF free
citizens. The other is the principle
OF representation, which Is the right
OF the people to select a political
agent to carry out the win of the
people who elected him.
Sometimes think we leave the
public schools with too much OF the
idea that we are chosen people and
that our government was formed by
sort OF divine revelation and not
the product of the wit and brain of
man.
This Is an erroneous idea. Our
government Is the result OF the sum
Of human experience and wisdom
after countless trials OF various
forms. believe that Gladstone was
right when he said that the greatest
body OF men that ever met formulat-
ed the constitution of the United
States.
Our constitution can be traced
back to the lessons OF Greece and
Rome and the Norman conquest OF
England
The most perfect and ideal demo-
eracy that ever existed was Athens.
The people met In one body as in
great town meeting. They chose their
generals and decided when they
should retire from the control of the
army. They elected ambassadors to
foreign courts. They even passed on
the worth of orations, poems and
plays. They crowned the vlctors In
every department OF the arts. and re-
warded the sculptor. the painter, the
author OF tragedy or comedy. The
people decided everything that had
to do with their intellectual life or
material or moral welfare. But Ath-
ems failed to discover the vital Sc
cret. representation. and this led to
failure. They lacked the principle
OF confederation. And so the little
democracy, through constant Jealous
les and warfare, perished after -four
iahlng a hundred years.
Rise aud FAN of Rome.
Next came Rome. with conquest
after conquest, territory after terri
tory subjugated. rising to be the pow
or Of the world, II allowed territor-
les for some time to govern them /,
selves. but they had no representative
powers, The result was that in a
few years all of the power was con-
centrated ON the Seven Hills. re-
call an Illuminating incident when tha /
ruler OF Rome sent out for all of the
governors OF the territories to learn
from them what the people wanted.
But right here want to say that
think that In such eases the lnspira-
tiOn should eme from the people and |
not from the capital.
1T was the lack Of the principles OF |
democratic self-governmsnt and Of
representation that wrecked Rome.
Coming down 10 England we md
the origin Of parllment. We see the
people choosing o discreet person to
represent them In the national body.
IF We could and the spot in Amer
lea where the nrst New England town
meeting was held. there would be
a fitting place to erect a granite shaft
to the source of our basic principle Of
The constitution builders worked
out In 1887. when fhav mat tina twso |