The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1911-02-22
GOVERNMENTAL
EVILS AGAIN
Discussed in a Masterful
Manner.
ETERNAL WORK AND VIGILANCE
Is the Price of Good Govern.
ment-The Duty of
Every Citizen.
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY

governmental policies, written ex'
pressly for The Herald)
While our Constitutional Conven
ton was assembled, France and Eng
land were furnishing striking ex'
ampes of the evils of extremes o
Capitalization and decentralization
England was sacrificing Persona
Liberty upon the altar of Peace anC
Order, thus warning the advocates o.
Liberty-among the ablest of whom
were Jefferson and HenTy-of the
dangers of centralized federal pow
err, while, upon the other hand
France was immolating Peace and
Order upon the bloody altar of Per-
sonal Liberty, inspiring Hamilton
with mistrust OF the peoples ability
to govern themselves.
These founders, weighted down
with the solemn responsibilities OF
their undertaking. well knew that
Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece and
Rome had tried every system human
Ingenuity could devise, from farm
ing out the public Offices to the high
est bidder, to the foulest despotisms;
from Aristocracies and Republics to
anarchy and chaos. They themselves
had tried a Confederacy and Roger
Williams a Pure Democracy. From
these rich stores, so replete of eXpe-
rience and example, they built up a
system that stand as the wonder
and admiration of mankind, founded
upon the eternal principles of free
conscience, equal opportunity re-
ward of effort and the human rights
of property, the basic rock
upon which the magnificent
superstructure securely rests. Shall
we, then, abandon or even eN-
pertinent with this priceless legacy,
wrought with Heavens favor from
the composite wisdom and experience
of the world and chastened by the
reddest blood of every nation in ev-
cry age known in our annals? 1t
seems to be the fate of nations that
their constitutional liberties shall be
baptized in blood"
Under its beneticent provisions, all
our rights are secure and all our
talents set free. Predatory wealth
and corporate greed may be re-
strained; grating, malfeasance and
extravaganza suppressed. But this
can only be done by, at least, a
working majority of united, good
and true citizens. with the single
minded purpose of greatest good to
the greatest number; who have no
axes to grind, no favors to ask but
the untrammeled right and liberty to
work out, single-handed, their own
destinies; must give a share of their
time and talent to the common
wealth, that faithful and efficient SER
wants may represent us in places of
trust; that we may fully know the
public needs, and that we may en-
force these just demands with
strong, well-defned. clean-cut public
sentiment, which the veriest dema-
gogue or scoundrel dares not vio-
late. with public sentiment" says
nothing can fail; without
it, nothing can succeed, and he who
moulds public sentiment goes deeper
than he who enacts statutes or pro-
nounces decisions"
A little concert of action and pur-
pose of a little coterie of resolute
men, armed with an intelligent bal
lot and supported by public opinion,
can clean out from public Office more
drones, grafters and political buns
than all our courts. Eternal work,
as well as vigilance. is the price of
good government, and not till we
realize the weight of responsibility
resting uDon the private citizen,
whose obligations to his country,
while not so numerous as those to
his family. are more binding; not
till, like Pericles, we feel that every
Athenian who neglects his share of
public AFFAIRS inflicts an injury upon
lis country, shall we ever see the re1
forms of which we are so fond off
lreaming.
See what deterrent force in sound
public opinion! Who dares oppose
t? The evil-doer may hope to evade
,ur courts of common law, but that |
# public opinion, never! But 1t
axes time. labor and thought to |
maintain it upon principles of wis
ON and justice. If the average cit
zen would take the time to famil-
lrize himself with our public men,
eeds and measures, go to the polls
nd fearlessly vote his Judgment
II of which is a duty he cannot neg
'ct without paying heavy toll-the