Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-08-03


Wears the United States OF AmericA
has become the field Of operation IoI
IN amiable band Of soothsayers, WY
have been going up and down tnS s
hand INDUCING In cabalistic utterances
respecting the initiative, the reieren'
dunn, the recall, and divers ana sun
dry other ingenious devices for reanS
ing the millennium By the ready ana
simple method Of voting II out Of ~
present state Of incubation. They a.
rect our attention to the clouds nyins
above the far western horizon, upon
(which the flaming finger Of the ore.
tg0n sun has traced, In radiant anu
t0palescent tints. glowing pathways
and shining minarets. stately temples
add castles and palaces. pinnacles o.
gold and caves Of purple, and they teS
1ns that these are the visible signs
(which mark the exact location OF the
new and improved political Jerusa
nom, where the wicked ofIiceholders
cease from troubling and the weary
voters do all the work. They bid US
1oln them In an airy pilgrimage to this
gcene Of pure delight, and assure US
that here, high above all selfish ana
mundane things, Is the land flowing
with milk and honey" where every
bird 10 songster, where the exquisite
and perfect flowers Of political purity
afe In perpetual bloom, where every
prospect pleases" and only the stand
;patter" is vile, where all the laws are
perfect and corruption and wicked
ness are forgotten legends.
A good many people are accepting
khe invitation, without taking the pre-
tcaution to secure return tickets.
~ EVILS AND REMEDIES.
yust now there Is good deal Of 20
Ntical and social unrest. not only
among our own people, but throughout
Ahe world. That there Is justification
kor much Of the dissatisfaction which
exists can probably not be truthfully
denied. The conditions. however,
which have given rise to this feeling
ball for sane, wise, level-headed coun-
rel and consideration. But instead Of
these the agitator is aboard and con-
fusion of thought results. Evils exist
~ they have always existed. Many
lFemedies are being suggested. some Of
khem good. some Of them foolish,
many Of them utterly vicious and I'm
practicable. There are Quacks In poll
Aics a. there are quacks in medicine.
and In the one case as In the other,
The Quack is usually identified by the
nnperabundance OF the laudation with
which he advertlses himself and his
bemediea
= The so-cailed popular-government
propaganda has for its ostensible OBJ
5ect the broadening and strengthening
iOf power In the hands Of the people,
nut its tendency 10 to emasculate and
ultimately destroy representative gov
arnment. Its adherents In their en-
khusIasm have advocated what seem
10 me some very wild and visionary
schemes, admirably calculated to in.
tlame the popular imagination. but
which, however, much they may In
grease the direct participation Of the
multitude in the affairs Of govern
nnent, will, | am persuaded. give them
not better but a far less efflcient
and desirable government than they
now have. do not mean to say that
/ am opposed to every suggested alter
zion In the existing governmental
framework. To oppose new thing
simply because II Is new is quite as
bad 90 to insist upon change merely
1bocause II ls change. am, for ex-
ample, 10 favor Of the commission
form Of government for municipalities,
because believe that plan will give
,ns better and ADLER city oficials In
such 4 scheme there Is no surrender
III the principles Of representative gov
lornment On the contrary there IL
rentralizine Of power and responsible.
~ IN fewer hands. the effect Of which
Mn be TO make the oficials more d.
nsctiy responsible TO the people and to
enable them TO locate with greater
certainty the Official who 10 ct fault
iuhen things 90 wrong
Mr.. President. | am not IN favor Of
standing stIll No one who takes the
Eiiehtest thought desires that we shall
40 that OF course. We must advance.
hut We must At our peril distinguish
between real progress and what
amounta TO q mere manifestation Of
he speed mania Among the games
% the ancient Greeks there was run.
ming match In which each participant
icarried a lighted torch. The prize was
awarded not to that one who crossed
lhe line lrst. but 10 him who crossed
ne line flrst with his torch still burn.
Enr II IL important that We should
nfVanca. but the vital thing is not that
I've should simply get somewhere
hers-quickly. brt that We
LIQUID arrive at definite goal with
me torch Of sanity and safety still
ntlaD8
only PRACTICAL PORN OF GOV
EMINENT.
Our present form Of representative
1Fernmaut. under which laws are
nsta b. specially chosen legialatorl
.1nstrusd By specially chosen and
rairt1 judges. and enforced b. npe
felT chosen executive olcors. an
IrIy convinced a ne onl4 rraciic
II. form 81 Eo4llnm1nt icT q countrl
II I0nrrrt 1ra1 ana great rq0r'1iIpI
g 0 WNrrI|" /. .I1|'I 10
IL. g.. Al" a." Anil :.