Charlevoix county herald., 1914-02-07
REFORMERS AND
REFORMERS.

lime was when a reformer was
man who initiated a great movemen
for freedom-freedom of thought, free
dom of speech, freedom of the press
and other inalenable rights. He brok,
the shackles of tyranny, and Liberated
the people from the manicles of sup
preston, knowing that even though a:
a remuneration for his work he woulc
probably be burned alive; yet grea
works usually arise from the ashes o.
greater dreams.
Met on every hand by Kisses ano
contumely, he possessed an invulner
able Indifference to popularity; i'm
PEELED only by heroic convictions, he
counted not his own life dear. Such
men were genuine "Men whom the
lust of office could not buy" nor fame
nor applause nor gold.
But, alas, reformation today has OBJ
viously descended into a mere profess
sion, impelled in some cases by glut-
tony for notoriety, and in others by
pecunlary CONSIDERATIONS.
The latest type of reformer is arti-
fically manufactured by certain schools
and societies" which arbitrarily gradu-
ate its candidates in the craft and craze
of investigation" in the fine art OF
'muek-rakiEg." Ii these pseudo-re-
formers can make big exposure, 4"
their future is secured; if they can stir
up sufficient agitation to create a de-
mand for some more hastily framed-up
ordinances or legislation, they have
achieved what this day and age calls
greatness. Thereafter their income is
limited only by their power to exagger-
ate facts, misinterpret statistics and
make sensation.
When one contemplates the money
these reformers (?) receive and spend
in dress, automobile, pullman cars,
banquets, ETC., one marvels at the con-
trast between the reforme- that was
and the reformer that is.
Restraint, prohibition and socialism
is quite the order of the day. There is
an abnormal tendency just now to re-
duce the rights and privileges of the
individual and to enlarge the function
OF the state. The effect is already be-
coming apparent in the reduction of
personality to lillipution dimensions
and powers. This abnormal legislative
paternalism will soon have us molly
coddled into imbeciity. Men of initia-
tive owe their strength to the opposi-
tions they encounter and the difficult
ties they have overcome. Positive
character develops moral fiber and
sinew only when it has something to
resist.
OF the making of laws there is no end
but there is limit beyond which they
cease to be a virtue. Abnormal or un-
reasonable legislation arouses only
spirit of disrespect and lawlessness.
We are assured by such authorities as
Hume, Green, Fraude, and Lecke that
the early part of the eighteenth century
was the most corrupt period in all
English history. Strangely enough this
was the same period when more laws
were placed on the statute books than
at any other equal time. But so barren
of results were these laws that the
Society for the promotion of Public
Morals" Ia body Of reformers whose
method and motto was legislation died
off for lack of funds.
In its essence, legislation is only de-.
structive. 1t can never erect con-
structive program. But the destruction
of any system, INVOLVING legitimate
factors of social service, is justifiable
only by the substitution of something
better, This is what the ordinary agi-
tator fails to grasp. - f'il4 .f,''--' q
F. j. MILNES, Pres,
National Indoor Game Assn,
Downers Grove, III.