Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-06-10
AMERICAN IMPROVEMENT.

tx-President in London, we are no
disposed to pass judgment. The ques.
tion is many sided; the principles in.
yoived are very complex, the fun ef-
fects OF the speech not yet apparent
But the suggestions of the American
statesman as to the best kind of gov
eminent for Egypt have called atten-
tion TO the fact that government in
our own country, whether national OF
municipal. IL not In condition that
is highly satisfactory TO the foreign
believers In government by and for
the people nor TO the patriots In this
country.
I'VE stand. as Judge Story stated It,
''the latest. and, II we fail, probably
the last experiment of self government
by the people We have begun II under
circumstances OF the most apsplcious
nature; we are In the vigor OF youth;
our constitutions have never been en-
feebled by the voice or the luxuries Of
the Old World, such as we are, we
have been from the beginning
simple. hardy. intelligent accustomed
w self-government and to self re-
spect"
H But the actual test liz SIN upon us,
and Will be upon each succeeding gen.
Grafton. The problem of government
cannot be solved once for all and
handed on to succeeding generations.
Each generation. standing upon tho
principles already established and
holding fast to whatever has already
been accomplished. must still meet the
new situations brought by the ever
enanging conditions of social and in
dustrial evolution. Eternal vigilance Is
the price, not molly of liberty, but Of
every other thing worth having.
II Is now thirty-seyen years since
Mark Twain and Charles Dudley
Warner produced their joint book en-
titled The Giided Age" In this
novel, beneath the laughable sayings
and doings OF "Col. Sellers" was a
really serious exhibition Of the corrupt
conditions prevailing In Congress. The
most striking figures, in the story was
really Senator Dilworth" who had
bought his election to the senate and
was there with the set purpose OF
recouping his election expenses. The
facts surrounding the case OF Senator
Lorimer of Illinois today. and we VEN
ture no opinion as to the completely
OF the Senator himself therein--and
the notorious fact that the senate is
composed mainly OF men OF great
wealth. including many millionaires
these are grave realities that con-
front the American people and call
loudly for a remedy.
Now, the London speech of MIR.
Roosevelt, about the merits OF which
the press both at home and abroad.
Is much divided. has at least enabled
foreign critics to point the finger OF
scorn at the misgovernment rife in
American cities.
Thus the English publieist Geo.
Bernard Shaw asserts that IN II is Eng
lands duty TO govern Egypt for It's
own good without consulting the in
habitants, It is many times more i'm
poltant' that Britain should take
America In hand in the same way"
Says this English writer
II quite admit that the condition OF
our own great cities leaves us open to
the retort that we would better learn
70 govern ourselves before we pretend
to govern other people; but the
Egyptians may make that retort Just
as Polntedly as the Americans, and
MIR. Roosevelt expressly tells us that
we must do our duty without attend
Ing to what the Egyptians say"
However he closes his argument
with this statement:
cit Is true that the Americans have |
abused their independence and made |
their initial government odious |
throughout Europe for its corruption |
and tyranny. but there are two ways |
Of remedying this. One is for Ameri- |
Fans TO reform themselves and the |
pther is to trust England for paternal |
government Mr.. Roosevelt advocates /
The latter plan. | prefer the former. |
A merica can take Its choice,
There Is. OF course, only one choice
Tor America TO make and that il to |
purify her own methods OF govern
nent. The indictment by Mr.. Stead OF
the revelations of san Francisco"
vi ich he terms 1.-THE last straw" and
which, he declares. are unpa ralleied
BY anything that has ever happened
" f<kN ~ iIlatNN iiaft 'f'l IluNAdAtu
With still fresher material from Pitts
burg and Illinois; so that there Is too
much truth in Mr.. Steads arraign-
nent OF the american failure In gov
srnment' to be lightly brushed aside.
Yet we have entire confidence in
he outcome, II cannot be. as Judge
story 40 well remarked. that America
wiz netray herself. In arder that she
nav not do so however. the trade or
,oiitics" must become more and more
he affair of the entire people The
nasses mean well; they are honest.
hey have no sympathy with corrupt
but they are busy, and
fave often been misIed. The practical
and ethical education OF the
Whole population is the only flnal solu-
ion; II is "A great undertaking, yet. il
he paramount duty Of the Republic,
We fully expect II TO be finally realiz-
"a.
1 LOOKS IO AMERICA.