Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1912-04-19
POLITICIANS VS.. PRINCIPLES q

POLITICIANS VS.. PRINCIPLES. \
Billy Sunday is quoted as having
said in one Of his sermons at Fargo,
last week that the people are and
should be placing man above party.
A short time ago in the Senate Of the
United States Senator Borah of Idaho,
who measures up, 10 the standard in
craftsmanship and who is affiliated
with the Progressive element Of the
Republican party, protests vigorously
and forgotten principles in the Glamour
for office of individuals and the party
squabbles between men. Senator Dor.
ali points out the high plane Of states.
manship taught and practiced BY Lin
coin as an example Of the deterioration
in political life that we have gone
through. He illustrates by the debates
between Lincoln and Douglas which
were based solely upon the fundamen-
tai principles Of government, and that
during those debates where feeling ran
high, Lincoln never forgot that the in
terests Of the people were not concern
ed in the political advancement Of any
man but that it was a question Of
right and wrong; in other words
question of principle.
Tho Wnr1d bo1so,vo, Ihoa c.~.x>
ali is right and that Billy Sunday is
wrong; that the difference between the
two is the difference between the man
who has. the capacity Of understanding
fundamental principles and the man
who appeals to superficial thought that
is swayed by emotional statements.
The establishment as an accepted fact
in political life Of correct principles
has benefcent influence on the whole
people, and when the people are edu.
Gated to a belief in those principles
which are correct, and to the high stan
'dards of morality that go with them
something permanent will have been %.
tablished. The election to Office of any
man, no matter how good, regardless
Of political doctrines which he believes
in does not establish any principle for
the benefit of the people, and it is ex-
ceedingly dangerous when the people
pin their faith to any one man or set
of men. True principles are right and
Interchangeable, whereas men are human
and no matter how honest are liable to
err, and most honest men are liable TO
have their best judgment warped by
the desire of personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT
and selfish ambitions. History has
clearly demonstrated that of even our
greatest men.
A government founded upon the per-
sonal fortunes of any man or any set
of men is unstable and sooner or later
will find itself drifting from its moor
ings and chaotic condition must fol-
low, as the people will be divided ac-
cording to the factions and the follow
ings of the leaders; but government
in which the people disregard the po-
litical welfare of few men and seek
to establish principles of economic
truth and righteousness, and where Of
fcials are only incidents OF instruments
for these purposes, is one of perma-
nence and endurance.
Partisanship is not thing to be de-
spised but a thing to be honored and
respected and partizanship crearly un-
derstood is but the evidence of patriot
ism. A man who is patriotic and thinks
must reach certain conclusions as TO
the right and wrong policies for the
permanent good Of the government and
as those policies or principles are ad-
vocated by one party or another he
becomes partisan of that party be-
cause he believes that the establish
ment of those principles or policies are
for the best interests of the people and
the ultimate good Of the whole people.
Whereas when men cease to be parti-
sans and cease to have political princi-
they become but tools and instruments
of politicians and occupy much the
same position as the hoard of courtie:s
and towards that followed in the trails
of kings and princes Of old. We are
drifting away from our mornings. We
should get back to the truth and re-
learn that principles are worth fighting
for, but that the political fortunes Of
men concern US only as they are in
struments in establishing the principles
that we believe in.
--oo--
WOULD FORCE THE COURT.
Attorney General Miller is reported