The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-07-22
5oRAH A MUCH Misunderstood
STATESMAN

>
picnic at Parma last week, some OF
the papers of the state have been
discussing his statements with a good
deal of acerbity. There seems to be
disposition on the part OF the more
hidebound organs to befog the issue
that Mr. Borah attempted to pre-
sent. Most of them in their utter
ances emphasize the speakers state
ments relative to the direct primary
law, and In this way attempt to
draw attention away from what he
was evidently trying so very hard to
do-bring to the people of the state
realization of the desperate condi-
tion In which the states business has
been permitted to fall and to beg Of
these same people that they shall
use the instrument given them in the
direct primary to cure these condi-
lions.
His address was not an indictment
OF officials alone. or of political agen-
cies only. but of the whole people
1t was intended to be an appeal not
to Republicans and Democrats but to
all men whose desire Is that the gov
eminent of this country shall be what
1t was intended to be-fuliy represent
tative of the desire for liberty with
out license - protection without pat
ronage-upon which II Is founded
Although Mr.. Borah does not say So
in so many words, II does not require
great deal of mental effort to read
between the lines OF his address his
thought that political parties like
the direct primary and the Australian
ballot are not the end sought in po-
litical activity. but the means to an
end-the instruments which are nee
essary to secure expression of one
thought in many minds in concrete
way. He is a Republican. we take it,
because through that organization he
believes he will best be able to ex-
press his thoughts on government,
and not because through that instiu-
mentality himself and friends can
best and easiest secure office AS
Mr.. Borah very well expresses 1t, 'if
thy right hand offend thee, cut it off,
and cast ii from thee" Equally in |
the minds of good citizens is the faith |
that duty should impell man in his |
political life IL party leaders and /
party machinery become so rotten
with corruption that the cure of the /
evils become impossible within that
party. It Is better to lead in the revolt,
and reorganize new party-ai-
though perhaps all that can be ac-
complished thereby is to open the
eyes of those within the old organiza-
tion who have permitted themselves
TO be blindy led through the devious
paths of graft and extravagance--of
broken promises and purchased favors
1t has been good many years ago
since prophet rose up in Kansas,
then as now one OF the mentally un-
easy commemorative of the nation
Lad
matter with Kansas" And then he
told what was the matter with that
state The telling read something
like what could he told of state gov
ernmental condition in Idaho. 1t
was more bluntly done than has been
the indictment just read the people
of the state by Mr. Borah, but to he
who is anxious to know the truth, a
careful reading of the Parma speech
should give the seeker after the truth
a fair idea of what ails his own state,
and very clear idea OF one means
OF effecting a cure--either within his
own party. or without a party.
Those who make business Of as
sisting men to throw off evil habits
express the opinion that the first step
In the process Is to make the victim
understand that he must want to r
throw the habit off--that he is so 3
anxious that even bodily pain and /
distress OF mind and nerves can be | q
endured. The man must be able to &
justify himself to himself. Mr., Borah1 n
In his address is beseeching the people
of Idaho to appreciate the fact TINT I'D
they must want to justify themselves n
to themselves. No voter desires to /
stand sponsor for a state government c
or which he Is ashamed--of which such lie
Things can be said with truth as Mr. I
Borah has Just said OF the state gov
eminent of Idaho--not only in its past | b
but In its present The mere faith 1t
that in Mr. Borahs mind the direct Il
is the best possible instrument n
that could be provided for the effect-l
Ing of such a cure, does not have and a
should not have an overpowering in- h
fluence upon the mind. so that those
who disagree with him in this one II
particular. should for that reason re- a
fuse to answer this cali back to the d
better path.
Party faith II would seem should IA,
not be an abiding loyalty to disloy- 2
atty, but desire to remain loyal to | Ii
the thought of loyalty--to ones fam a
y and home. friends. and to the besti
interests of the community OF which | a
he Is citizen and of the govern q
nent under which he lives and whose I
strength protects him. If he finds e
hat the whole fabric of society---theI a
sacredness of the home. or the effic- o
ency Of the government are being | !
through the organization of n
| corrupt machine. whose aim Is thel 4
prevention of the righteous win of
he people being enacted into both n
aw and the proper administration
II the law, it is not party faith but Il
'arty disloyalty that holds the indivi- II
iual voter to a blind following of the d
eaders who have already betrayed
him. Tribune.