The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1912-08-10

WITH something OF spirit OF rel1-
gious fervor and with a solemnity that
excluded much of the usual trimmings
of a political convention, the new party
was formally launched in Chicago this
week, with Theodore Roosevelt as Its
Hiram johnson, of California, for Vice.
President.
The critic who undertakes either to
scoff at the spirit of many of the men
and women who composed that conven-
tion or to belittle the moral and poll
tical influence of the movement they
have inaugurated, is not entitled to a
hearing in the halls of intelligent debate;
his place is on the primary bench where
information and enlightenment are ten
derby rendered in simplest forms OF
speech. We are not hesitant in asserting
the most remarkable gatherings in our
political annals. Neither are we blind
to it's potentialities. Its potentialties
are what give us grave concern. Many
of the men and women of that conven-
tion are being led by the highest and
hottest motives. THAT is the weighty
fact which makes their mistaken poll
tical philosophy all the more menacing
This day marks the proud birth of a
movement in this country wherein the
responsibility of government for the in
dividual is a cardinal doctrine. These
are the words with when friendly
journal notes the new party's birth. In
these words we find it's condemnation as
political philosophy. We say it con-
siderately and with most kindly spirit;
because we believe the very best men
and women of our land are the expon-
ents of that philosophy. But, none the
less, to our thinking it is wrong, radi-
cally wrong, and calculated in the end
to be the bane and not the blessing of
political institutions. 1t is not the
business of government to be responsible
for the individual. 1t is not the bust
ness of government to regenerate society.
1t is the business of government to at
ford the individual safe and ordered
environment for the working out of his
own responsibility. 1t is the business of
government to afford society a safe and
ordered territory for its own regenera-
ton. In other words, without burden
ing our readers with any elaborate set
ting forth of our creed of political
science, let us say in word, that while
we sympathize profoundly with the mo-
tives and purposes of these people, We
believe them wholly wrong in attempting
to realize those views and purposes
through the channels of civil govern
ment. 1t never has been successfully
accomplished; it never will be, as We
think. 1t is against the facts of history;
it is against the divine economy; it is
tatons of our low estate.
We would hail with joy, joy akin to
that which reigns supreme in the hearts
of the New Jerusalem, the attainment OF
the ideals for which many OF these men
and women plead and pray and toll and
sacrifice. But when 1t comes, it will
come from above" and not from be-
meath. 1t will not be the holy and bea-
tifc product of civil government 1t
will be the crown and glory of re-
deemed humanity.
The function of civil government is,
and should be, very limited. A world
redeemed-redeemed from social injus-
tice, from personal suffering, from sin
in all its phases and effects, world SO
redeemed, regenerated, glorified, is
something far beyond the power or the
function of civil government.