The San Francisco call., 1910-06-15

occurred in our national elections that
public sentiment at the beginning OF
campaign, before the questions at Is
sue nave been discussed, was strongly
opposed to the verdict given after thor
ougn discussion, and suppose 5hat no
one would contend that the judgment
OF the people, formed after thorough
consideration, should not be preferred
to judgment given without such con-
limited consideration.
And L submit that our system OF a
nxed tenure of Office, and of elections
held at stated times is far superior
as means of forming and reaching
a sound public opinion than is the
iEngilsn system where a vote In par
preclpitate a general election at time
when the public mind is exercised by
great passion or excitement--a cond1-
ton certainly not conducive to sober
or even patriotic judgment. There is
NOT one of US who would not mistrust
ms own Judgment formed in passion or
sleeps before making up his mind on
important matters, and when the whole
people, Iid or community, are to con.
is more important than in the indi-
vlduai case that the opinion should
be freed, as far as possible, from the
sway or passion or prejudice.
But let us return a moment to the
ulinculty OF ascertafning public opinion,
Wnlcn is the guide that must ultimately
control In all governmental matters.
Va AND CIAMOR
have spoken of the difference be-
tween pupHc opinion and public clamor
ana now careful we should be not to
mistake the one for the other. We
saw, TOO, that the newspapers were not
tney renect public opinion they reflect
Pupllc clamor also, and frequently con-
Iuse the two, and perhaps while have
been speaking some of you have been
wondering what test ! would lay down
by, which you might easily and infal
IDLY distinguish the genuine from the
spurious. But if such were your ex-
pectations | fear / shall be forced to-
disappofnt them. There are no empiri-
cal tests which you can apply any more
tnan formulas for success in life, or
rules for the certain attainment of
happiness. Problems such as we are
too far reaching to be solved in this
summary fashion. Yet some solution
l must Indicate, and if you ask me
what that solution is l answer: In
education, in the realization of the
ideal for which this institution stands
The political salvation of our country
today depends upon the leadership of
our educated men and women-upon
the men and women who have been
trained to do their own thinking, and
who have been well grounded in the
philosophy of its institutions. The
essential part of such education is a
thorough understanding of our national
history, and an Intelligent attachment
to the ideals and principles upon which
our government Is founded.
WOMEN INCLUDED
You will observe that I include
woman among those. upon whom rest
political responsibilities. The fact that
women have not generally been grant
ed the suffrage does not absolve them
from t tn this public duty The The depS6siting Ss,t
Insignificant part of the duties OF
American citizenship. The creating
and fostering of intelligent pubic
opinion is an incomparably more inn
portant matter and one in winch
women may be quite as influential as
men, and | have sometimes thought
that if those women who have strfven
to secure the right to vote had but
turned their iabors toward the forma-
tion of a public opinion In furtherance
through suffrage they would nave ac-
complished and will accomplish in the
future much more than could be gained
by the mere privilege of voting.
1t is not going too far to say that
the stability attained by our govern
ment thus far has been due in no small
measure to the fact that in supreme
crises men of responsibility have stood
their ground and have done their duty
in spite of the clamorous outcry OF the
multitude and the revilings OF an eX-
cited press. The men of whom this
may be said did their noble part in
making and me directing tb sennd era pubito to
the ground listen for voices that
would lead them to popularity. Rather,
having CONSCIENTIOUS toHVictioiS III iO-
gard to the course they should pursue,
they declared and maintained that
course against all clamor and oppoSl-
t1on and thus proved that in popular
government based upon public opinion
Statesmen of the noblest patriotism
may exist, and that such government
does not necessarily reduce all men in
public life to the level of time serving
politicians. On the other hand, 1t can
not be denied that there is type OF
man in public life, of small intellec-
tual caliber and narrow outlook, who
seeks to advance his selfish interests
by a f1attering Difference to every pass
ing whim of what he considers the
majority" This is the type OF man
that has led the best informed of our
foreign critics to remark that:
In America the practical states
man is apt to be timid in advo-
cacy as well as infertile in. sug-
egestion. He seems to be always
listening for the popular voice,
always afraid to commit himself to
popular 1t has been OBJ
served that all the subduing power
of the popular voice may tell
against the appearance of great
statesmen by dwarfing aspiring
discover and obey the tendencies
of their age rather than to rise
above them and direct them.
If this happens in America It is
fail to appreciate and follow and
exalt such eminent men as for
tune bestows upon it. 1t has great
capacity for loyalty. even for hero
In support of this view he cites in
stances where the American people
have followed with devotion its great
men, saying that:
"A kind of dictatorship was =
yielded to Abraham Lincoln, whose
memory is cherished almost like