The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-03-02
\ POLITICAL PUZZLE.
fnctroit -. We

Wh4 could not MIR. Tatr 5ust ~ %"li
have eaid those things Why would
II hate not been - Biting tor 'ilAt
fruniUe, repetition uf ,rue American
~princiulcv To have rort" from h
white house. from the official head y!
the nation. rather han from - husl-
nox3 Office and from a private "ltiZ"n'
That IL ihp present puzzle Of tn" poll
teal .liua,ion. Colonel Roosevelt re-
asxcr,s the basic principles Of free
government. and ,hc entire country
riyes az If II had heard them for the
frs. time. a VAC, refreShnlent ."ccps
the nation and men feel stronger fnith
In the peoples right and ability 10
rule than tfcy hate fely for months.
So yimple is the situation that II re-
uuires only the sturdy reassert!on of
elemental principle 70 inspire the
whole country.
II is almost absurd TO ask If there
lives An American who does not he
lieye that American government
means precisely the things declared
by Roosevelt. He has stated no more
than the political conviction of the
fathers. rs these were humanized and
applied by Lincoln, and as the APP
pear todar in the natural course or
progress. For government is not ~
thing carved in stone, but the out
growth Of the progressive pppu-
lar mind and conscience; il it pro-
ereseive because il is alive; il changes
because it grows-anJ its normal pro-
reg If growth is from the good to the
hcttnr and from the better 10 the
best. II does not depart, 20 he sure,
from the basic principles ON which
our idea Of free government rests,
but il frees those principles from their
time limitations, i, fits ihe institutions
al clothing 10 the principles growth
In stature.
progrcssivcness, as We know that
term in politics. does not signify de-
parture. but growth, maturity, en-
largcd scope and Increased ability.
The old-tiInc principles of our gov
are capable Of almost end
loss expansion; they are SO distinct
with life that it is impossible 10 con
reive the people ever outgroWing
Them. for thcy keep pace with the
nnIarging vision of h age h
symbol Of free government is 81 seed
that grows INTO n great liberty tree
which adapts itself TO changing sea
sons without ctcr changing its ma
ture, that gives shade and fruit in its
time. But there is in America a back
ward party which regards govern
mcnt as n carven statue, a tixed and
limited a-d lifcless institution, incap-
able of growth, of adaptability. OF In
crease.
The reason Mr.. Taft does not gay
the thoughts which havc just stirred
the nation il that 10 him the govern
nIent is bound between the leather
covers of law books: it is not the
great %throbbing pulse Of a living,
growing sentiment. a sentiment Of va
ried and constantly increasing hu-
man aspects, but always true to its
magnetic pole Of fundamental princi-
pie. The government to him is en-
cased in great marble buildings in
Washington; but to Theodore Roosc-
Welt the government Is erected in the
hearts and conscicnces and minds Of
the people.
Had Mr.. Taft confessed his faith
his belief In the homely truths on
which our government is founded. had
he not hesitatcd to ga that the COM
DIIsu tuOuSHL anu tpuN lttlvI III uc-
sire OF the American people as n
whole is the greatest INC wisest d.
rection any government could have.
II would not have remained for a pri-
v8te citizen to enunciate the prin-
cIpIes which tho very office Of the
presidency exists to uphold.
Platitude Platitude! the critics OF
Roosevelt sneer I'VE heard it all in
the history classes at school," they
will say. Yes, yes. but it is such
%pIatitudes that spell the faith Of the
people. that hold the nation intact,
and the determination OF the people
liz to take them out Of "the history
classes at school" and enthrone them
in the high places Of power. These
are the platitudes which established
government by the people, of the peo-
pie and for the people on earth. These
are tho %platitudes that maintained the
union. These are the platitudes
which which A decade ago whipped
entrenched wealth towards its proper
place 10 a subordinate servant, and
not the authoritative rules of human
life. These are the platitudes which
win men to e daily dedications OF
themselves to the stern duties Of cit.
izenship. and which will transform
the world. How hungry the people
are for their live and enlivening repe-
tition! How they leap with joy when
ona man - simple enough and strong