The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-03-21
TERM PROGRESSIVE GIVEN NEW
DEFINITION BY THE PRESIDENT

was thought that the least govern.
Iment Of mankind was the best and
that the more nearly the functions of
the government we're confined to the
administration of justice and to the
enforcement of law, the better: but
under present conditions of popula-
ton and civilization, there are many
functions that the government can
more effectively and more economi-
cally perform than private enter
prises and in this way the individuals
among the people may derive greater
benefits. The statutory provision OF
the legislative discharge of such func.
tons by the government is progress
sive
There were many who were not
socialists, but who saw in the pres
ent structure of our government. and
especially in the checks and balances
intended by the trainers of our con.
stitution to secure deliberation and
calm action on the part of the people.
a real obstruction to the reforms that
were deemed necessary in order to
maintain the proper control of capital
land corporate privilege by popular
will and to secure equality and oppor-
tunity.
"ProgressiVeness of this stripe at
tanned a great popular support and
its advocates were able, for a time.
at least, to give the impression that
others who were equally imbued with
the necessity for reform by legisla-
tive and governmental action, but who
thought it might come without de-
stroying the present structure of our
government and without affecting the
guarantees of life, liberty and prop
erty, were reactionary and unsympa-
thetic with the cause of the people.
THE bitterness of the attacks
which they made upon men in re-
sponsible positions, the lack of re.
straint that they manifested in i'm
peaching the motives of men as high
minded and as honest 40 any of them.
were only symptoms of a psychologi-
cal situation that must pass under the
calming lapse of time as the public
came to view the situation with a
knowledge of the facts and with that
common sense and spirit of fairness
that ultimately always prevails among
the American people.
We all believe in popular govern.
ment. l am aware of the exposure TO
criticism, which the suggestion that
the American people may make mis-.
takes by hasty action and lack of de.
liberation will expose one. l am aware
of the ease with which such a sug.
gestion can be tortured into an ex-
preston of distrust in the American
people ! am aware that body of
people does not differ in certain traits
from the individuals who make it up
and that people like to be fattered as
do individuals. | know that a whole
people does not any more than the
individuals enjoy having their own de-
fects pointed out to them.
Peoples True Friend.
The man who tells the people CT
the danger that may arise from mis-
taken and hasty action pays a higher
tribute to them than the one who con-
stantly fawns upon them as if they
were incapable of error. The most
abiding compliment that can be paid
to the American people is to point to
the fact that in the constitution which
they framed and have maintained,
they have recognized the danger of
nasty action by themselves, and have.
in its checks and balances, voluntar-
lily maintained protection against IL.
The truth is, in this last century. wa
have indicated popular government
in a way that it has never before
been indicated.
The pride that have that this is
a popular government, and that it has
shown itself the strongest in history.
Is as deeply imbedded as any feeling
that is in me. would be the last
man to exclude from the direction of
the ship of state the will of the Amer
lean people. That is the ultimate
source of authority, and it does not in
any way minimize my faith and my
love of popular government that l in.
sist that the expression of that popu.
lar will shall be with the elaboration
to make it sound and safe.
81 fully and freely admit and assert
that when the American people have
had time to learn all the facts, and
have had the time to consider their
bearing, their deliberate judgment is
a wiser and better guide for the state
than the judgment of the most ex.
perienced statesman, the most learn
ed jurist, the most learned and pro.
found student of history. In tbIa