Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-06-08

modern life Is corruption and lnefhcIency IN
municipal government. Fight for the right
| in this and other matters because it is right;
and the people will support you.
First of all, prepare for your life's work
by securing good education. Study dill
gently the history and government of your
country; and lay up a good store of general
knowledge. But above all, in the fear of
the Lord, and for your souls salvation, read
the Bible, that great book of life. Read to
mark and to learn; and you will incidental
ly acquire a punch in your expression that
you can acquire in no other way.
By way of preparedness it is also well to
learn to do little public speaking. You
may be called upon at some town meeting,
or other community gathering, to explain
some of your printed words. There are two
ways in which to speak in public. One
way is to write out what you have to say,
and then learn it until you know it as you
know your prayers. But this way is fraught
with danger. When the time comes for you
to speak your piece you may forget what
you have to say Another, and a safer way,
is to learn to do your stunt at word mason
ry as well standing on your feet as sitting
at your desk.
| have said to make local matters the
subject of some of your editorial articles.
But do not hesitate to lay hold upon and
discuss important matters affecting the state
and nation. Only by so doing can you full
fill all the duties of citizenship. The will
of the people is, or ought to be, the law of
the land. Justice Cooley said that well
settled public opinion is common law.
That great statesman and kind critic
James Bryce, in his American Common
wealth. pays this tribute to the height of the
ideal which the American conception of
popular rule sets up:
''The American citizen is one of the
governors of the Republic. Issues are
decided and rules selected by direct
popular vote. Elections are SO frequent
that to do his duty at them a citizen
ought to be constantly watching public
affairs, with full comprehension of the
principles involved in them, and
Judgment of the candidates derived
from a criticism of their arguments as
we'll as recollection of their past
careers.
Such a Nation" Mr.. Bryce says, needs a
succession of men like the prophets of
Israel to rouse the people out of their COM
placency, to refresh their moral ideas, to
remind them that life is more than meat
and the body more than raiment, and to
whom much is given of them will much be
required"
Much may rightly be required Of our
schools, as we'll as of our newspapers, in
the way of teaching citizenship. 1t is we'll
to be practical; but so much is said nova
days about vocational training, and ssuch
like, that there is danger of, losing sight of
the highest and grandest function of public
education That function is to lead in the
sciences, including the progressive science
Oh DeHlOCIdCy, anu W SpI6du dlOlodu
knowledge thereof.
Research work must not be hampered,
even if it leads to the conclusion that the
tariff is a tax, and an unfair and burden
some tax; that ancient precedence in regard
to water powers must give way to modern
justice as applied to present day industrial
conditions; or, that graduated land tax is
right as we'll as graduated income tax.
would not take one jot or one title from
that blessed volume the Book of Common
Prayer, from which we have learned four
duty to our God and our duty to our neigh
Dor. But to that portion which teaches us
our duty to our neighbor. would add an
admonition that it is our duty to our neigh
Dor and to ourselves and to our children,
and our /neighbor's children, as well, to
apply our hearts unto political wisdom, and
faithfully perform our part in the work of
self government, to the end that better
True Americans have faith in the common
man, and in his capacity for self govern
ment. TheScommon man cannot farm out
his duties of citizenship: he must exercise
them himself. AndUt is our bounden duty
as newspaper men to lead the common man
Alright in political rectitude and wisdom.
And to do this, you must yourselves be men
of independent thought and action. You
cannot lead Alright by taking that which is
current, and passing it along; but by prov
ing all things, and holding fast that which
is good; and by impressing the good upon
the minds of others.
OF course the right kind of leadership is
all important. Our great responsible leader.
President Wilson, has time and again point.
ed out the vital Importance of responsible
leadership. We must have, and we do have
great leaders of political and economic
thought What a vast number of men has
that great thinker and teacher over there on
the Hill, DR.. Richard T. Ely, turned about
to face the future and to work ont q hot