Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-09-10
CHURCH AND SUNDAY SCHOOL ~
EFLECTIO
POLITICS,
b. WILLIAM u. RANpEN.

POIITECS,
It is not often hat the American
people have before them so clean cut
an issue as at the present time. AS
one of our weekly journals has so
admirably put 1t, it is not SO much a
question of n party over against
another as it is the interests OF all
the people or those only of a few
democracy versus oligarchy. This
is certainly the case in national pol
itics, as we'll as in most of the states
and municipalities. The situation
has been well analysed for us. A
democratic form of government calls
for the will of the people being done.
Originally the people could directly
register their will. Increasing num-
bers made representation necessary.
This has made it possible for the
representatives to regard the wishes
of a few instead of that of the many.
The movement today is toward put
ting the power again in the hands
Of the people themselves, toward
which end the initiative and the ref
erendum has been made operative
in some of our states. This makes
our representatives more responsive
to the popular will.
The immediate form in which this
whole question comes before the
voters in New Jersey is in relation
to local option, which is simply an
application of the principle to n
department of our p~olitico-social
life. 1t is a gratuitous assumption
on the part of our state legislators
that the people themselves are not
qualified to pass their Judgment
directly on this so momentous a
question. 1t is not difficult to per-
ceive that in taking this stand our
representatives have ore regard to
a few than to the many. Many side
issues have been raised in order to
befog the situation and to confuse
the voter. 1t is, nevertheless, a very
simple question and a clean cut
issue, and is wholly apart from par
tlsan issues. Do you, or do you not,
demand that this most elemental
privilege of popular government be
yours, namely, hat of registering
directly your own personal will in
relation to the liquor traffic?
There are a number of men in
Middlesex county coming before you
for your suffrage next week. Some
of them have openly declared, both
by word and by deed, that they do
not believe that the people them
selves have any rights in the matter.
Some have discreetly said nothing
definite on the matter. But some
have boldly declared that they be
lieve in the principle Of local option,
and that they will do all they can to
make it operative if elected-Mr.
Molineux, of M%etuchen, and Mr..
Campbell, of Cranbury.
This is not only a political Issue,
it is also a great moral issue. If our
country is to endure as a democracy,
the people must have this power, not
only in reference to the liquor traffic
but on all questions. Corruption in
political life has been the foul fruit
of our Indifference and laxity. Too
much power for evil has been per-
mitted to rest in the hands of a few
irresponsible men. One student of
political economy has even gone SO
far as to say that the high cost of
living in these times of plenty and
prosperity is directly due to the
prevalency of graft, which is nothing
but a euphonius name for dishonesty
and %thievery.
Ones belief in a God Of righteous
ness precludes the idea of the AL
mighty caring for the few over
against the many. o Jesus gave unto
men the revelation of the Heavenly
Father caring lovingly for all, send
ing the rain upon the just and the
unjust alike, yet ever seeking to
turn the wicked from his ways and
the unrighteous man from his
thoughts. Dare we take the u~ntena-
BILE position that God does not see,
does not know? Rather must we
throw ourselves upon the side of
God and his righteousness, and seek
the reign of the Golden Rule in pol
tiles as in all departments of life.
This is the hour Of opportunity.
What are You going to do about II?