The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1913-05-16
RESTORATION OR PROGRES-
SIVEISM.

SIVEISM
Presid, mt Wilson in his Inauguration
speech, which was in general terms, and
dealt only in generalities, made among
others the declaration that the work be-
fore this administration was one of resto-
ration of the government Of the people
to the people.
Perhaps not in these exact words, but
that was the idea he intended to convey,
In this we think he was correct to the
extent that the administration of this
government for forty years, excepting
the two terms Of Mr.. Cleveland, has been
a government conducted for and by the
special monetary interests and combina-
tons which controlled the Republican
party. There was therefore universal
dissatisfaction by the people not enjoying
the special privileges for which the gov
eminent was being conducted. This con-
dition led to the election of Mr.. Wilson
as President.
The result of the election in the re-
turns clearly indicated that Mr.. Wilson
was not popular man before the people,
and if he ever is to be a popular man
depends largely on how he succeeds in
restoring the government back to the
foundations laid by the fathers, and back
to what it was up to the civil war. The
statement of the President above referred
to was an expression called out by condi-
ions as Mr.. Wilson in common with
I Ill other intelligent and patriotic citizens
saw and felt The fathers intended this
% be government of law and not a gov
,rnment Of men. 1t was against the
government of men which our forefathers
ebelled.
They provided against this by strict
limitations on every department of this
government, and limitations upon the
ower of every man to whom power was
0 be entrusted from the President down.
Not only were strict limitations of
very department provided but they fixed
mutations upon the power Of the people
Tho were to be governed. They did not
/ 'tablish an absolute democracy, because
lat had been tried and failed, they there
1re formed a representative democracy.
nd for fifty years it was the best govern
ent the world had ever seen.
Now the great work to be done by this
administration, and tits the greatest work
TAT can engage the effort of free peo-
e, is to restore this government to its
iginal design and intention. We must
IT in this effort forget and do more than
store the government to the bounds Of
original limits and objects, and 90
to the dangerous domain of innovations
into the field of untried experiments.
We confess to fear of this tendency
w apparent in loud proclamations of
!, ogressiveism. Wemu not forget that
:, that is old is bad and all that is new
good. 1t is safe in government to
Id on to the old, the tried and the true,
!, fore we adopt the new and the untried.
The Jews were very happy and very
q ,sperous until they were seized with
fever of unrest and innovation. Then
~ wanted king, and the Lord warned
!, IN against the innovation, but they
uld have it, and it was the beginning
their failure. Let us be warned of
! danger Of innovation. We are now
a fever for innovation.
We want the initiative and the refe
+ Idum SO that the people can do any
ug they want to do whenever they
at, and as often as they want to dot.
, have changed the Constitution SO
It the people can elect United States