Cañon City record., 1911-03-09

Inc nlSn antlclpatlOnS or the pub
lie in relation TO the lecture of ex-
Governor Joseph W. Folk, of Misso-
uri, on The Era of Conscience" were
more than realized in its delivery and
a vote of thanks is due the Young
Mems Christian Association in bring
ing so distinguished an orator to Can
on City Like imperial Caesar of
Rome, he came, he saw, he conquer
ed,' but his conquest was intellectual
and moral, rather than one of physical
proWess- Such an address must in
eyitably leave its impress on the
community in quickening the percep-
tions OF its citizens upon the subject
Of civic duty as they pertain to the
nation, the state and the city.
Pleasing in his appearance, elo-
quent in his defamation, broad in his
comprehension of public obligation, of
unquesticned probity OF character
and sincere in his convictions of right
and wrong, Governor Folk appeals to
patriotic men and women wherever
he goes with a forcefulness and pow
er rivaHed by few speakers on the
American rostrum. Although a sort
of political John the Baptist crying
out in convincing philippe the evils
that threaten our system of govern
ment Governor Folk, as is implied in
the subject Of his lecture, is an opti-
mist and believes in the saving right
eousness OF the people of the United
States They are patient with the
growth of graft and greed, but the
time is coming. and now is, when
has ceased to be vir-
tue.
Among the more salient utterances
in his discourse Friday night were
the following; There has been
great awakening of individual respon-
sibility for the affairs of city, state and
nation within the last few years. The
public conscience has been aroused
against evils, and things are not toIer- I
ated now that a few years ago were
submitted TO in silence.
Reforms sometimes die. but revo- I
.uiions never go backward. and n rev
olution has been wrought in the con-
science OF men and women in this
country OF ours The awakening is /
merely determination to have the
government OF the city. the state and /
the nation to represent the public in
terest. and not special privilege. One
of the great obstacles to civic righte-
sa h. I
dea that ii Injuries a city or a state
20 prosecute wrongdoing Men op-
pose the enforcement against gambI-
ng and the liquor traffic because it
INJURIES the state They object TO the
prosecution of the trusts and mono
oolies because it hurts business. Such
iiews are entirely false. No city or
state can be injured by the enforce
nent Of the peoples laws; to do 9TH
srwise is TO substitute the will of the
,fhcial for the peoples laws, and that
S tyranny. No state or community
,an be hurt by opposing grating: to
10 otherwise is TO connive at it. The
disgrace is not in their correction.
lut in submission 10 them with su-
pine indifference.
The most conspicuous fault of ma
ional. state and municipal govern
nents in the United States today is
hat they are governments by the few
and not by the people. There has
been great Improvement in recent
Sears. but there remains much to be
lone in the direction Of better things |
There is still too much aggressive
Selhshness and averice. and too lit
lie. aggressive patriotism What is
needed is more OF the kind of patriot |
SIN that fights for city, state and /
every day: the kind of pat
-iotism that will go into the battles
IF peace as readily as into the battles
Df war.