The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1912-11-27
The River Press
Published every Wednesday Morning
by the River Press Publish
ing Company.
THE COUNTRY IS SAFE.

Vho rear q apprehension 0tOueeu
by partiean orators aud newspapers
during the recent campaign should no
longer be entertained, according to F.
P. Dunno, the humorist and philos.
opher, who contributes an interesting
article to the American Magazine.
Recalling some of the dire predictions
Of q few weeks ago, the author OF the
Dooley sketches declares the country
is not going to the dogs, and presents
this review of the situ alton:
"Now that the campaign is over and
We q come out..of our cave and say
what we really think without endanger-
ing our lives, we beg to assure the
patient that the horrible things he has
been seeing are not real, but the crea.
lures OF the over.stimulating rhetoric
he has imbibed; that the found atoms
Of the republic have not been under
mined; that the pillars Of the state are
moi crumbling and that this country
is not . bit like Rome before the ad.
vent of the Caesars.
1.-THE questions the country has been
discussing with SO much heat and
which it will 20 on discussing with,
we trust, less heat, are not very vital.
Any sensible man who could gain
sufficient height and distance to look
on them calmly would call them very
small questions indeed. When we
know with what cautious steps Lincoln
and his associates approached the
subject OF human slavery, we cannot
but wonder at the violence OF the opin.
ions of this generation on the third
term, the recall OF judicial decisions,
and other microscopic political mat.
tiers. Perhaps it is because they are
so small that they arouse our pas.
sions, on the principle that We would
use different methods in pursuing a
mosquito and stalking q tiger.
"At any rate, there has been no
question before the public recently
upon which there might not be q per.
fectly reasonable and respectable diff.
ference of opinion. The arguments
we're very fairly matched. Naturally
the balance was always on Dur side,
but never enough 20 to make sure
that the scales were properly adjusted.
We could see nothing wrong about
the third term; but, admitting certain
premises, we concede the logic Of those
who opposed it. The initiative and
referendum as quickeners OF needed
legislation be ar the appearance of q
useful tonic; but they are purely ex-
perimeItal, aud no one can say with
certainty, and no one but q guack
would say at all, that they would act
better in this big country than they
acted in little Switzerland.
"The recall of judicial decisions and
OF the judges themselves has aroused a
good deal of unnecessary warmth.
The fact of human life that unchal-
lenged power almost always leads to
tyranny would seem to indicate, as
the doctors say, some form OF regula.
ton of the judiciary, but a strong
case oo the other side can be based
upon the necessity OF maintaining the
independence of the courts.
"And 50 you may go through the
whole list Of projects and remedies
and find reasons for differences OF
opinion around the Preside In winter,
but none at all for punching anybody
in the eye. Unless, of course, 1t Is
your nature TO enjoy punching people
in the eye. In which ase any pretex'
will serve"