Evening journal., 1913-06-18

f'~NrN~'n W tHNti hnhtHAs iie
responsibility is individual. Its sane
ton APPLIES equally To ah. Its meas
ure differs perhaps with each. II in
/ diFidual material success I'm life Is
possible only by reason Of govern
ment. the degree in which each Of us
/ IS successful in business way must
To certain extent, measure his re-
| sponsibility TO keep In active opera
ton the governmental potency Of the
peoples Will Because we. like all
other really enlightened nations of to.
day, have discarded all other theories
Than that governments can only de-
rive their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed AS Disraeli pul
3 ~: All power is trust :
from the people, and for the people all
springs and all must exist
Many things can be better taught
by example than by prcccpr. This re-
sponsibility can only be discharged by
each OF us by the injection of his in
diVidual vii into governmental aacirs
This may sound to you like a large
/ proposition In fact, however. il is al
most the smallest simplest proposi-
tloh that can be stated. II is our duty
TO participate IN the political activities
or the community I'm which We live
from the smallest politicM affairs 10
/ the largest, from the choosing OF the
humblest officers of the most local
branch OF government to the selection
OF the most exalted; to exercise a
cfoico dependent only OF our own best
Judgment and to encourage others to
/ the same course.
Evils always exist IN government
! because government, like other human
I institutions, can never be perfect
Along with the evils we always have
g luxuriant crop Of political doctors
seeking TO obtain office In exchange
/ for their remedies for governmental
/ Ills Many people today have become
/ obsessed with the idea that our form
of government is a failure that It must
be changed. They urge that the indi-
vidual today does not exert himself In
governmental affairs, that he does not
I do his duty. that our actual govern
ment does not represent the will OF
/ the people, but rather the will Of pow
eriul groups controlling huge c0ncen-
trations OF material resources To
remedy this they look not to them
selves, not TO the people, not to a use
/ OF the instruments that lie ready at
/ their hand, but they delude themselves
/ by imagining they are original think
ers They devise schemes. they take
up theories Of government discarded
| by those who framed the form of gov
ernment we now have. and. clothing
them in fantastic garb put them forth
as original discoveries. Having form
ed or borrowed a theory, their imagi-
nation sees in every phenomenon only
an evidence of the correctness of that
/ theory. They look not within the body
polite for the sure specific for civic
ills, not to the individual and lndivid-
ual action and conscience, but they
demand ever change I'm the laws
new and queer laws, strange govern.
mental machinery
DO not be classed among those who
ascribe TO the Constitution Of tho
United States, aud the form of gov
lernment thereby established, char
acter so sacred as that the mere
thought Of changing Il is sacrileee
/. Indeed, 1t has been changed seventeen
times since its ratification. twice jus
recently, without, however. greatl
affecting It's general character. A wis
view with respect to the Constitution
has been we'll expressed by ThOma
Jefferson who. when an old man said
Some men look at constitutions Will
sanotimonious reverence and deem
them like the ark of the covenant, to,
sacred to be touched They ascribe C
the men of the preceding age a wisdom
more than human and suppose wha
they did to be beyond amendment.
knew that age well. ] belonged to Il
and yabored with il. Il deserved well
of its country. lt was very like the
present hut lacked the experience o
the present; and forty years of eX
perience in government IS worth {
century Of book reading; and thi.
they would say themselves. were the,
/ TO rise from the dead. | am certainl,
no, an advocate of frequent and un
tried changes in laws and constitu
tions ! think moderate imperfec
tions had better be borne with; be
cause when once known we accom-
modate ourselves 10 them and fin'
| practical means Of correcting theii
evil effects But | know also that laws
ana institutions must go hand in han,
With the progress Of the human mind
We might as we'll require {
man TO wear the coat that fitted hin
when "A hoy as civilized society TO re
main ever under the regime Of thci
ancestors.
while We may change the non-es
sentials of our Constitution TO suit tn,
progress OF the generations. IL doc
not follow that We should change it
Fundamental character after q centur,
and quarter of unparalleled prosper
ity, advancement and happiness as
nation, unless there Is a clear demon
stratlon that this instrument Of GOV
crnment no longer furnishes to Ou
people equal opportunities for ad
venccmcnt. progress and happiness q
, no longer efflcacious to enable then
10 rule themselves. or contains fea
lures which hamper their further dc
velopment
81 adiurc Won. therefore. 10 enrol
yourselves among the ranks OF thos
who recognize that. as a people marcl
forward their political institution
should march with them. improved q
meet now conditions that have arisen
, but not among the ranks of those VIII
cry ever for a change Of political sys
tens. not among the ranks of thos
who seemingly believe that America
, manhood has so far declined that Tn
4 individual Is no longer able 10 eXeI
his will in political matters unles
the opportunity TO do so is fed TO hiI
from a spoon.
"The civic duty that would i'm
press upon you Is that Of exertin
your Individual WILL your individua
choice. In political affairs You shoul
take a personal interest in public mat
= ters. not 10 the end that you may hol