The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1911-12-29

reform movement In politics means
that same thing in essence, though the
details are different.
In the most enlightened countries.
even today majority of the people
are almost wholly absorbed In their
own private affairs. There are great
numbers, who are always concerned
about public affairs for their own per-,
sonal reasons; yet there are always
some people--an increasing multitude
ly concerned about public affairs be-
cause they seek the best good of their
fellow men. 1t has become a neces-
sary condition, in order to have even
passably. well-regulated country, that
the interest in public affairs should
be widespread and that it should be
kept as intelligent and as unselfish as
possible. Modern life imposes upon.
everybody the duty of good citizenship.
Good citizenship in the full sense re-
quires a constant concern about public
matters. Such concern must take
some part of mans time. If good
citizens are not willing to give time to
public affairs for the sake of wise and
efficient government, it is certain
enough that a more selfish class of
citizens will seize the opportunity to
control public affairs for private ad-,
vantage. In England, popular prog
ress has had to fight the aristocratic
and ruling elements, in order to
change a government for the benefit
Of special classes to government
for the welfare of the people In the
United States, where We have no spec
ial classes, the result of negligence
always is to put governmental affairs
under the control of professional poll
ticians who manage things for their
own pecuniary gain. There is Il no
country in the world where the rights
and liberties of the individual citizen
are safe unless he and his fellows are
prepared to fight for them, not only on
election day but on every other day in
the year. In some respects, at this
moment, American liberty is less Sc
cure than Turkish or Russian.
The men at Washington are doing
about as we'll as they can, but they
are all fumbling, more or less. The
same thing is true in many of our
state legislatures. Valuable determine
ations can only be reached by the pro-
cesses of a widespread public discus
sion. Every congressman must seek
the help of the thinking people of his
own district or state. Few, if any; OIL
the great questions before the country
at the present time are really party
questions. The office-seekers natur-
ally adhere to their own party machin-
cry, because otherwise they would
have no chance to get the nomina-
tons or appointments. And many
thousands of excellent citizens con-
tinue to call themselves. Republicans
or Democrats. because of traditional
ooooAiotioliS. out patty l66lIHS uObS /
not sway mems minds as in former
years, and good government is an ideal
that men are learning to value more
highly than the success of their own
party. The citizen should be outspok-
en-, and he should encourage his con-
gresham to be frank and to deal with |
questions on their merits, Some Re- |
publican congressman have been afraid |
to say what they really thought about |
reforming the tariff; and some Demo- |
cratic congressman have been afraid |
to say what they thought about the
best way to deal with railroads, trusts,
and large corporations. 1t is usually |
the fault of a congressman's constitu-
ents when he has to play the dema-
gosue. AS a rule the congressman |
would like, to be allowed to think hon
estly and speak sineerely.-Review of |
Reviews.