The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-01-24
CRITICISMS OF OFFICIAL ACTS IA NECESSITY
amer Read Before the Meeting Of the Eastern Idaho Press
Bye j. ISLE OF THE RICHFIELD RECORDER

| we are tOlu- anu tnO "u'oti''
for the statement may even now be
in the next room-that we have lib
erty, but not license, or even leave,
to criticise; that not even the truth,
but the motive back of it's telling
is the standard by which statements
shall be Judged that students are
poor rule to set up as guide, since
they are not to be obeyed or re-
garded; that the court practise, as
set forth in the state constitution
and the statutes is a doubtful rem
edy for over statement in criticism
and out Of this We are to hnd.
way to harmonic our old theories
and beliefs that the press; that the
voice of the American people when
raised in criticism, is free, and to
face the DEGREES that may vary vi h
the winds as to what may be said CT
public acts on the part of those we
elect to serve us.
The dissatisfied man is the h"e'
friend of the human race. From tn"
snug satisfied Pharisaic man comes
never helpful suggestion, never
great invention, never a scientific
revolution. Calico who publicly re-
canted his belief that the earth re-
wolves around the sun still said in
and on his once-persecuted theory
has been built most of the science
to-day DR.. Jenner, who first dis
covered vaccination as preventa-
tive of the smallpox, said that it was
crime for medical science to live
on in the stupidity in which he
found it. Harvey, who discovered
the intricacies of the circulation OF
the blood, criticised and condemned
the doctors of his day, for their ig-
norance and consequent malpractice
There are but random Illustrations
of how criticism and dissatisfaction
spurs the human race onward. Every
invention is a revolt against the dull
commonplace of the past; every new
process is a short cut toward the ul-
innate goal of absolute efficiency. In
art, in science, In government, this
is equally true.
To take up governmental affairs
more specifically as within the in
tent of the subject, there is no one
now engaged in newspaper work who
has not seen one or many bitter
fight for the supremacy of some
great principle or principles. There
was a time, in the history of some
of the western states, when every
county could-and most of them
did-issue bonds to help build a
railroad that would serve the coun-
try and help development There is
hardly state left that now allows
this form of public expenditure
thanks to the violent criticism that
came from careless bonding. Yet the
proposition to nationalize the rail-
roads, to build national highways,
an infinitely better and more rat
ional way of securing transportation
and development, has grown out of
the old plan and it's heated discus
sions. 1t would be interesting to
follow the myriad of court decisions
growing out of those old cases, and
see wherein the laws, the motives,
the practices Of the times have
changed.
The Public Service Purged.
Within the week, we have head of
the conviction of judge of the Uni
ted States commerce court for NAL
feasance in office. The federal judi
&C. who, not long ago, resigned under
fire, presumably to save himself the
odium of prosecution, is still in the
minds of all The infinitely long
procession of men who have resigned
from various Offices, high or low,
and the longer procession who have
been thrown out of office. for their
misdeeds, needs no argument to- tell
the rational man that there Is, some
force other than their own individual
conscience at work to purge the pub
lie service. We, read sometimes
pretty little tales about how some-
one contributes to the conscience
funds, by sending anonymously the
price of stamp or a railroad ride.
or some other little item that was
stolen years before. But the one
thing that purified public life is
criticism; that is what makes the
long trains of designations and re-
tirements, and the progress under
the new administrations that at least
start in the straight and narrow path.
And it need not always be criti-
cism along lines that can be proved.