The Sentinel=record., 1912-03-10

fitted to do in the way of governing
themselves He made it clear that Ihe
wished to correct an impression that
he had declared the people unfit for
, self-government.
In conclusion the president pointed
10 acts of his administration to prove
its progressiyeness. He said in part:
an the history of politics from
time to time new phrases are coined
/ to characterize new issues and new
movement. One of the terms which
has come into constant use today is
progressive end it is supposed to in
dicate the opposite of reactionary,'
or ultra-conservative Men differ as
/ to what progressive policies are but
perhaps we can reach a definition
that will suit everybody.
Government is framed for the
greatest good for the greatest num-
ber and also for the greatest good OF
the individual and the balancing of
these two objects n such a way that
both may proceed side by side. While
we would not part with the right OF
property and while possibly in certain
directions we might be willing to mod.
ify the character of its use where it
has turned out to be an abuse, as in
/ the case of the antitrust law, what
we are all struggling for, what we all
recognize as the highest ideal in so.
ciety is equality of opportunity for
every member born into it.
"uader the Jeffersonian idea it
was thought that the least govern
ment of mankind was the best and
that the more nearly the functions of
the government were confined to the
administration of justice and to the
enforcement of law, the better; but
under present conditions of popula
tion and civilization, there are many
functions that the government can
more effectively and more economi
caliy perform ths.n private enterprise
and in this way the individuals among
the people may derive greater bene-
fit. The statutory provision for the
Legislative discharge of such functions
by the government is progressive.
There were many who were not
socialists but who saw in the present
structure of our government and es
Lpecially in the checks and balances
intended by the trainers OF our con
stitution to secure deliberation and
calm action on the part of the peo-
pie, real obstruction to the reforms
that were deemed necessary in order
to maintain the proper control of
capital and corporate privilege by
popular will and to secure equality of
opportunity. Progressives of this
stripe attained a great popular sup
port and were able for a time at least
to give the impression that others
who were equally imbued with the
necessity for reform by legislative
and executive governmental action but
who Thought it might come without
destroying the present structure of
our government end without affect
ing the guarantees of life, liberty
and property were reactionary and
unsympathetic with the cause of the
people. The bitterness of the at
taeks which they made upon men in
responsible positions, the lack of re-
straint that they manifested in inn
peaching the motives of men as high
minded and as honest as any of them,
were only symptoms of a psychology
cal situation that must pass under
the calming lapse of time as the pub
lie came to view the situation with
knowledge of the facts and with
that common sense and spirit of fair
ness that ultimately always prevails
among the American people.
''We all believe in popular govern
ment. I am aware of the exposure
to criticism which The suggestion
that the American people may make
mistakes by hasty action and lack of
deliberation will expose one. | am
aware of the ease with which such a
suggestion can be tortured into s.n
expression of distrust in the Ameri-
can people. The truth is,
though, that the man who tells The
people of the danger that may arise
from mistaken and hasty action, pays
a higher tribute to them than the one
who constantly fawns upcn them as if
they were incapable of error
"Distrust of popular government!
The pride that | have that this is
popular government and that it has
shown inself the strongest in history
is as deeply imbedded as any feel
ing that is in me. | would be the last
nP.a to exclude from the direction of
! the ship of state the will of the