The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-12-03

The thought uppermOst In this
brief paper, is the ultimate triumph
of the political ideas that vitalize
our form of government.
The leading argument set forth
endeavors to substantiate the fac1
that the European Powers have fail
ed to keep the peace of Europe
because their forms and methods o1
governmental control were made.
quate to meet the exigencies of the
present era.
Now is the opportune time to en-.
large upon this subject. Now il
the pertinent Present-full of grave
political problems and 80 replete
with the evidences of the many man
ifold efforts of progressive people
to attain their political ideals and to
improve their economic well-being
We have witnessed Monarchy fol
no sane or comprehensive reason
plunge a continent into the devasta-
ting ruin of war. Nation upon
nation marshalling millions of men
into one vast complex chaotic strug-
gle.
Secure-separated from the thea
tire of war by the intervening At
lantic, we have pondered we have
wondered, unable to get clear idea
of the reasons-the why's and the
wherefores of the war.
We have read many different
articles and preachments calculating
the various promulgated ideas and
views on the cause of the war.
There has been a vast amount cf
matter printed upon this point-in-
terviews giving the opinions of lead
ing men n-newspaper editorials have
set forth in long high-sounding
phrases variety of why's and where
fores, suitable to the general turn
of their readers views and opinions.
Kaiser, Gar, Kings and Emperors
have promulgated excuses and palli-
ations. Underneath all this effort
denials and accusations lies the one
great dominate fact, the one obtru-
sive element, which made the war
possible. The utter failure of
Kaiserism. Czarism or Monarchism
to guide the great nations of Europe
into the right path to peace and
happiness and prosperity.
The governments of Europe have
failed to perform the true functions
of government. They have halted
the progress of their people. They
have failed to fulfill the promises of
their sponsors. Woe-bitter sorrow
full woe shrouded all in sable gar
ments looks down upon the sad
results of the awful, fearful mistake
the men of Europe made in their
various systems and forms of gov
ernment.
Let us look into this matter of
government. Let us get a true
conception of the principles of the
Federal Union. Then it will be
clearly seen why the nations of
Europe have failed to establish pc ace
and are now retarding the progress
of all mankind.
The growth of the idea of Federal
Government has been a gradual de-
velopment of the fact that man is
an intelligent being capable Of CO.
operating with his fellows for better
ment. This idea became vitalized
into a righteous cause when Patrick
Henry declared in a public assembly
that it was the duty of men to resist
the prerogatives of kings.
Go with me for a brief moment
back into the past. Back to the
DAYS of colonial Virginia. Within
the meeting place of the House Of
Burgesses, hot debate wakes back
and forth among the members.
King Georges taxes are not just
What king ever levied just Tax?
But these members of the Virgin.
ia House of Burgesses could not rise
to the point of denying the king the
thing he asked. Deep seated in
mankind at that time was the idea
of monarchial rule. Suddenly from
among the seated assembly a stal.
wart young man leaps to his feet
and pours forth his soul IN fiery
speech. Fear and dismay seizes up
on the Burgesses. But they listen.
Some cry, Treason! Treason!" But