The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-19

Judging from the comments and con sersations heard on the streets. 1t may be safely assumed that more people read what was said of Governor oNeal last Tuesday evening at the Jefferson theatre in Birmingham than what Gov ernor O'Nea1 said at the banquet Of the New York Chamber of Commerce in New York, and yet these two speeches stand in proportional relation to each other as does Mount Olympus to a molehill.
 Governor O'Neal took for the sub feet of his address two of the most vital questions affecting the nation to- day and which will decide it's destiny in the future, and that surely Is matter in which all patriotic Amer jeans should be deeply interested. In comparison with national welfare per sons and personalities sink Into insig- nifcance, and no matter who or what the man may be who raises his voice in warning that voice should claim attention.
 Every day and from all sides at- tacks are being made upon the gov ernment of the country, charging 1t with all sorts of nal administration, and yet it Is the proud boast of every American citizen that his is a gov ernment of the people, by the people and for the people. That there is much cause for complaint cannot be denied, but where does the trouble lie? This question Governor O'Neal answers and his answer is worth repeating. "In my Judgment" said he. the efficient cause for the larger part of our political ills and of the misgovernment we may en- dure, or the treason that may develop in legislative bodies, lies in the indif- ference of the people and not in any lack of power on their part to directly participate in the making of the laws. To put it plainly, Governor O'Neal tells the people that if they are misgov- erned they have themselves to blame for it. Yes, the whole trouble lies in 9he indifference (and that word 'indif- 5erence' is but a mild way of express- ing what really amounts to what the ordinary man would call "dont-give-a a. d-n-ability') which, like an opiate oi some. lethean draught makes men care less of future consequences. What be- tween the indifferent who don't care and the corrupt who care only fol themselves and their own interests, thu government of the country has to z great extent fallen into the hands O. scheming politicians and ranting ia natics.
 When An Sin relieved Bill Nye of hi ssroll' Bill said the country was ruined by Chinese cheap labor" and proceeded forthwith to vent his wrath upon tn, representatives of that race, but wher, shall be found today the man who will proclaim that the country Is ruined b. the corrupt politician and give him wha Eye gave the Mongolian? The politi clans, to use 0 figure of speech, arr in the saddle and the people are tarnel. submitting through the fear of the whil ard spur, which kicking might bring upol them. Slaves make tyrants and fool make knaves. Thieves steal while tn honest man sleeps and the politician leads his cohorts to the polls while tn rood citizen sits at home twirling hi thumbs. Indifference; Iris worse, 'ti 'TT<NHsn to the nation to allow bosses
 <a heelers, grafters and all sorts o Z ble to carry the day against hon { @6x slnd patriotism. The civil institution fn} nation demand and are entitled t EH Hich protection from domestic enc e<5sx as are it's shares from invasion b. < N f, Feign foe, and if the civil institution i2xz ~ nation have an enemy more in 1 ;{ks1~al to their welfare than any othe