Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

it Will return next in 1895.
and the perpetuity Of the republic.
If needs be, he should become a can
didate for Office as a duty to his
country and his kind. Truth to tell,
it requires but little coaxing to in
duce the average citizen to run for
Office.
1T is the duty of every citizen to
attend both the primaries and the gen
eral election TO the end that good and
capable men may be selected. The
man who fails to do that except for
valid reasons. falls short of living
up TO his privileges and of assuming
his fair proportion of the govern
mental burden. Neglectine that. ne
is stopped from setting mp a lugu-
briOus howl about the unfitness of
officials and the cOrruptioEs Of poll
tics
NO victory for purity IN politics
has ever yet hean won h. failing to
attend the elections and then grOwl-
ing and kicking about The character
OF the men selected. The only way
20 reform politics s 30 be active be-
fore and at the elections. for JciTer-
son uttered an immortal truth when
he said Eternal VIGILANCE IS the
price of UJertv
tNTI RCHfStBE.E, <.NN CONTROL.
In answer TO all Jhis. il is some
times urged that there is so much
corruption in politics thar good men
are dedled by PARTICIPATION therein.
That excuse IS not tenable. In fact,
it is prepOs- erous. To use com
mon expression. IT viii not wash
The probabilities are that there
is not congressional district in
America where there is a majority
Of pUrchasahle voters; and that the
unpurchasabIe voters can control ev-
cry one of hem If they would only
do their duty.
80 doubt. there are corrupt men
in politics; SO are there corrupt men
m every business and profession, but
it is a consolation 20 reflect that
there are not so many corrupt ones
either in politics or IN any other
walk of life this year as there were
last year and there viii not be so
many corrupt ones next year as there
are this year. Corrupt men ought TO
be scourged out Of public life with
q whip Of scorpions and they are be
ing weeded out.
But while there Is undoubtedly
corruption in politics, the malicious
marplots who go about proclaiming
that all public men are corrupt ought
10 be restrained from running at
hnnn r1rrL1fan
the enemies not only of the republic
but of all constituted authority
MORE ENLIG GHTENMENT NEEDED.
In conclusion, Speaker Clark
pleaded for more enlightenment on
the real political facts and said.
The persistent charge that all
public men are for sale and that all
government in this country is thor
ouEhly rotten not only puts improp-
er ideas into the heads of our own
people and Of our own children. but
has n wocfuI effect on the immigrants
TO our shores at the rate Of
more than a million per annum TO
be assimilated by US and to be form /.
cd and fashioned into American citt- /
zeus. They came hither because Of I.
-he~ opportunity 10 improve their .
condition and to enjoy the blessings .
Of our free institutions. They look
to America as a sort of heaven on /
aarth. They have been taught at
,ome to regard this as the best gov
srnment on earth-whiCh it is. What .
must be their astonishment and re-
yret then 10 hear and 10 read as soon
Ill
public men are corrupt; that the vot-
ers are yenal and the government
-otten 10 the core As certain as a
gun is made OF iron. that must have
, bad and demoralizing effect upon
hem. 1t is a bad and a sad lesson
n preparing themselves for the on
,rous and important duties OF Amer
can citizenship.
OWN THEORY BEST.
They should be taught that our
heory Of government is the best ever
ievised by the wit of man; that the
-ast majority of American voters of
II parties are absolutely honest;
hat the majority OF public men are
If high character and patriotic: that
he corruptionists are only the ex-
eftLohS' AilL prove I4S TuiS' thdI
he voters Of the land, without re-
gard 20 political preference or af-
iliation are more and more demand
ng perfect integrity as 4 condition
PRECEDENT TO 2 public career; that
hey are engaged in the self-appcint-
d and patriotic endeavor OF bring
ne all governmental functions clos
r 20 the great body Of the people:
nd that the concensUs OF opinion
.mong honest folks IN this country
5 that the only proper home for cor