The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-03-14

the people 1t would be rightly deter
mined. And the people have in re.
turn placed greater confidence in Col.
Roosevelt than in any other man In
the last half century. He has a
stronger hold on the affections of the
people than any other man in public
life.
We do not think that Col. Roose-
welt has never made mistake We
think that he has made many, but we
do believe that he has made as few as
any many could make, who has accom-
plished as much as he. And. further,
we think that his mistakes have al
ways been mistakes of the head and
not Of the heart; hat he has always
been honest and sincere in all the
things that he has done that he has
always been working for what he con-
sidered the best interests OF the Amer
ican people as whole.
Why is 1t that he has been so bitter
ly attacked by large part of the
press of the large cities since he an.
nounced that he would again accept
the Republican nomination for pres
ident II rendered him9 What doctrines
that he has advocated have caused all
this invective?
He is accused of attempting to de-
stroy the government by the princi
Piles and policies he advances. What
are they The iniative, referendum
and recall Of judicial decisions. And
what do these principles amount to In
their last analysis-simply the right
Of the people to rule.
There has been much discussion Of
all OF these things People who be-
lieve in them have been called social
lists, anarchists, fanatics, faddists,
ETC., etc. Every effort has been made
by the class, who think that the peo-
pie have not intelligence enough to
govern themselves, to predjudice the
people against these principles. They
claim these things will produce mob
rule, will destroy representative gov.
ernment and injure business.
The initiative gives to the people
the right to pass law II the legisa-
ture refuses TO pass 1t.
The referendum gives to the people
the right to ratify or reject law
passed by the legislature.
The recall Of judicial. T. decis-
ions gives the people the right to say
whether they want law to remain In
effect which has been passed by the
legislature, when the courts lhave
held this law to be opposed Ito some
provision in the constitution.
Are any of these such dreadful
things The people originally made
the constitution. They elected the
people to fill the offices. This govern
ment is founded on the principle
that all government is based on the
consent Of the governed; that all
power is inherent in the people.
Believing that the people snail rule
Col. Roosevelt is in favor of these
principles as are his supporters.
The only argument against these
principles is that the people are not
capable of governing themselves.
Very few of those opposed to them,
however, are candid enough to admit
this. A few openly say so. With
these we have no quarrel, we simply
disagree with them.
We believe that If the people are
not competent to pass upon a princi-
pie, they are not competent to choose
between men.
Col. Roosevelt believes In letting
the people rule. President Taft
wants the people to have as little as
possible to say about how they shall
be ruled or who shall rule them.
In choosing between them there is
but one thing to determine. DO you
want the people to rule or do you
want special privilege to ruler