The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-02-21

right OF the people to rule themselves
and to provide for their own social
and Industrial well.belng. All consti-
tutions. those Of the states no less
than that OF the nation, are designed,
and must be interpreted and admin
istered. so as to flt human rights.
Lincoln so interpreted and admins
tered the national Constitution. Blu
chanan attempted TO reverse, attempt
ed to fit human rights TO, and limit
them by, the Constitution. II was
buchanan who treated the courts as
fetish, who protested against and con-
demned all criticism OF the judges
Tor unjust and unrighteous decisions.
and upheld the Constitution as an in
strument for the protection of priv
uege and OF vested wrong. 1t was
lincoln who appealed 10 the people
against the judges when the judges
went wrong, who advocated and Sc
cured what was practically the recall
Of the bred Scott decision. and who
treated the Constitution as living
force for righteousness We stand
FOR applying the Constitution TO the
Issues OF today as Lincoln applied II
TO the Issues of his day
Duty Of Public Servants.
II hold It TO be the duty Of everyI
public servant. and OF every man who
In public or in private life holds
position Of leadership in thought or
action, TO endeavor honestly and fear.
lessly to guide his fellow-country.
men to right decisions; but emphat.
lcally dissent from the view that II IA
either wise or necessary to try to do
wise methods which under ttho Consti.
tuition will automatically prevent the
people from deciding for themselves
what governmental action they deem
Just and proper. $50. Constitu-
tion-makers should make II clear be-
yond shadow OF doubt that the people
In their legislative capacity have the
power TO enact into law any measure
they deem necessary for the better
ment OF social and industrial condi-
tons. The wisdom OF framing any
particular law Of this kind is a proper
subject OF debate; but the power Of
the people TO enact the law should not
be subject TO debate. To hold the
contrary view IA 70 be false TO the
cause OF the people. to the cause Of
American democracy.
Aim Of Good Government.
The ends OF good govern
ment in our democracy are 20 secure
by genuine popular rule a high aver
age OF moral and material well-being
among our citizens. II has been well
said that In the past We have paid
attention only to the accumulation Of
prosperity. aRd that from henceforth
We must Pay equal attention 70 the
proper distribution of prosperity. This
is f.ue. The only prosperity worth
nfgving is that which affects the mass
Of the people. hold Il to be our
duty to see that the wage-worher, the
small producer. the ordinary consum.
err shall get their fair share of the
benefit OF business prosperity But II
sither Is or ought TO be evident TO
every one that business has 10 pros
ger before anybody can get any bene.
Il from Il. Therefore hold that he
8 the real progressive. that he is the
genuine champion of the people, who
,ndeavors to shape the policy alike OF
he nation and OF the several states
10 as 10 encourage legitimate and
lonest business at the same time that
he wars against all crookedness and
Injustice and unfairness and tyranny
In the business world (for Of course
We can only get business put on n
basis OF permanent prosperity when
the element of injustice is taken out
OF III This Is the reason why have
for so many years insisted, as regards
our national government, that It is
both futile and mischievous to en-
deavor to correct the evils of big bus.
mess by an attempt to restore bust
ness. conditions as they were In the
middle OF the last century, before rail.
ways and telegraphs had rendered
larger business organizations both in
eyitable and desirable.
What is needed is, first, the recog-
milton that modern business conditions
have come 10 stay, in so far at least
as these conditions mean that business
must be done In larger units, and then.
the cool-headed and resolute deter
minatlon to introduce an effective
method Of regulating big corporations
so as to help legitimate business as an
incident 70 thoroughly and completely
safeguarding the interests OF the peo-
pie as a whole We are a business
people. The tillers OF the soil, the
wage-workers, the business men
these are the three big and vitality I'M
portant divisions OF our population.
The welfare OF each division is vitally
necessary to the welfare OF the people
as a whole. The great mass OF busi-
ness is either small or OF moderate
size. Th9 middle.sized business men
for.r an element Of strength which is
o. hterally incalculable value to the
nation. Taken as a class. they are
among our best citizens. They. have
not been seekers after enormous Cor
tunes; they have been moderately and
Justly prosperous. by reason of dealing
fairly with their customers. competi-
tors and employees The average bus.
mess man OF lus type Is. as a rule. a
leading citizen of his community, fore
most IN everythlnp that teila for fts