The Greeley tribune., 1910-07-07

I. !. + I. i. !. :. !. \ ! :. J. = \ !. +
the representatives OF privilege di-
vide the forces In opposition. Those
who object to reform do not usually
put their protest upon the true
ground, but they seek some other
pretext. They ask why is not this
or that done. n one examines the
source of complaint like this he will
usually find that 1t is not because
Of q desire that reform be made
more thorough, but to discredit
what has been done. II one sincerely
desires progress in the way of better
things instead of criticism he will
give his help in the accomplishment
OF the things wished fer. Reform
always progresses by degrees. every
thing cannot be done in day.
II a government anywhere neg
lects the people II is because the
people first neglect the government.
In the work before you there is no
use for the sword but there is a
stern demand for that courage shown
by Americans on so many battle
fields. The spirit they exhibited as
soldiers of war. we should show as
soldiers of peace in the noblest work
to which the patriot can be called.
the supreme and sublime effort to
bring a little nearer day by day the
time when brotherhood and charity
shall rule instead of avarice and
greed; when special privilege in every
form shall be destroyed and equal
rights to all enthroned as the ruling
principle of public, and the guiding
principle of private life.
The most conspicuous fault of
municipal government in the United
States today is that they are govern
ments by the few and not by the
people.
1t is well for state to display its
virtues and not parade its faults.
but It should not be forgotten that
the highest civic virtue is in the
overthrow of civic depravity.
When the lawless get bad man
In Office they support him in all the
evil that he does; but when the law
abiding get man in office too often
leave him to fight the battles without
their active aid
& A governments h good ~ the aver
$50 morality Of the average indi-
vtdual is progressive. and . govern
ment IL bad in proportion as the
average morality Is low and leth-
argic.
The character OF government de-
pends entirely upon the will of the
majority, and no government is bet
ter that majority of its voters. The
hest governed city is where good citi-
xens are most active and the worst
governed city is where good citizens
are most inactive.
To arouse good citizens and make
them realize their civic duties Ia a
matter OF supreme Importance In
monarchy all authority is in the
crown. and delegated to those be-
meath. In republic such as ours
the people are the sovereign.
Each man is one seventy-five mil
lionth Of sovereign. It may seem
small, but 1t marks the distinction
between the citizen and the subject
Some OF you may think n the
government were left entirely to you
public evils would not exist. But
| You have portion of the RESPONSE
bility now. II you are unfaithful in
/ part would you be more faith full
with all? He that is faithless with
portion cannot be trusted with the
whole.
Our government in theory gives
more rights than any other. but
t'on to the general welfare that they
are Indifferent to being robbed so
long as they do not feel the effects
directly, and are among the many.
The welfare OF the city or state
should always be the first and high
est consideration. Some OF you may
belong to this party-some may be-
long to that party-but all should
be patriots.
] am not an alarmist and I do not
believe that the United States OF
America will cease to exist as re-
public today nor tomorrow. We have
lasted for one hundred and thirty
two years-a long time when COM
pared with the average period OF
one mans public activity, but short
In the history of nations.
There are no necessary evils" in
government. It is the abuses OF
government about which all good
c,tizens have a right to complain.
Those who have profited by the
abuses are usually the loudest in the
denunoiation of those who point out
abuses In public affairs.
In the best governed city the good
pcopio are tremendously ACtlVe ana
the vicious are notably quiet. In
what 10 perhaps the worst governed
city In the union the good citizens
are deptorably passive in their good
ness and the vicious are ordinarily
active. And yet suppose the pro-
portion OF good citizens in each of
these cities is about the same. If
the honest voters in the badly gov
erned cities would assert themselves.
tney would have local government
OF which they could be Justly proud.
Whiie the people are to blame
where public abuses exist officials
who wink at the violation OF the law
are nevertheless culpahle.
ivic evils cannot exist whom the
public conscience fs aroused Nearly
all public wrongs grow out OF the in