Weekly journal-miner., 1915-07-08
(FrQR Tuesdays Daily.)

Denunciation of freak government
 such as has been the vogue since tho advent of statehood, and a prediction that the pendulum was slowly swing ing from radicalism to conservatism in Arizona, were the striking features of the able and eloquent address giv- en at the Elks' theatre Sunday morn ing by ex-Governor Sloan. His speech which was timely, and of the highest form of patriotism, was part of the exercises held to commemor- ate the national birthday The pro. gram was appropriate to the occas' ion and consisted of music by a picked choir of 20 mixed voices, read. ing of the scripture by Rev. H. H. Shires, prayer by Rev Perry, invoca- ton and benediction by Rev w. H. Cox, a solo by Mrs. Viva Head Paar, accompanied by Miss Irene Wells, violinist and selections by ten piece orchestra The musical num- bers were the best heard in this city in years.
 Judge Sloan's address in part, was as follows;
 There was a time within the memory of most of us when patriot ism expressed itself in terms of boast fitness and when eXtravagant claims of national superiority passed cur rent as truisms-admitting of no sue cessful contradiction. This was the period when the average Fourth of July speaker assumsd as a matter of course that Americans were the greatest, the most enlightened, the most moral and at the same time the smartcst and most progressive peo- pie in the world, and that the man who had the temerity to question any of these claims was no true American and should be eXpatriated for his want of patriotism.
 "Whether the mental horizon ot the American people has been enlarg- ed. whether we have become less provincial ill our appraisement of things American, and therefore less intolerant of any suggestion that there may be anything in our history not altogether creditable, or anything in our achievements or accomplish mcnts that may not bear comparison with the best of any people or na- ton, 1 do not know. Certain 1t Is that we have passed from this period of extreme self appraisement to one of extreme self depreciation. How far we have gone in this direction we hardly realize ourselves. l think it is true that our severest foreign critics have not surpassed Us in this direc- ton.
 "If the fault-hnding and bitter con demnation of American institutions, of our business, political and religi- ous methods and of our whole social fabric, which has been so prominent a feature in the press and on the pub lie platforms of our country, is jus tifed by facts, are we even entitled to be placed on a parity with Tur- key; should we not be rated, insofar as social progress goes, below that of any nation making any pretense to civilization? l do not disparage criti- cism. On the contrary, with our newer self-conscientiousness. I be lieve it should be encouraged, only 1t should be fair and just. At the same time it should be constructive and not merely destructive. Therefore, while l conde7ln undertaking as an indus try as the lowest and most degrading of all occupations. I commend that spirit of inquiry that would make the most rigid and thorough study and investigation of every subject apper- taining to our social and political life and the freest expression of honest opinion based upon such study. We cannot have too much of such criti cism. Indeed, we have had altogeth- CT too little criticism of any kind that was not prompted by partisan zeal or colored by partisan prejudice.
 "I take it that no one here is en- tirely satisfied with things as they are If so. he would be one of those imaginary persons we call Stand pattersP There are conservatives who look backward and not forward, just as there are radicals who ignore the past and have no regard for pre- cedent or authority and whose gaze IS entirely toward the future. The true conservative would turn the clock backward; the radical would turn it forward, but neither, I take it, would stop 1t altogether.
 "In what I shall say I shall assume that most of you occupy middle ground, being neither extreme con servat1ves nor extreme radicals. Up on this assumption 1 put the ques- ton this morning in the utmost good faith-is there anything wrong with conditions in this state, and if so, what is the remedy? From being a people of conservative tendencies we became about the time that state hood was imminent, violent and az gressive radicals, seekers after innO- vations and experimentalists along nearly every department of govern ment. Some of these things taken up with enthusiasm, were in reality not new. but old they only seemed new