The Washington times., 1918-11-24
What Seven Wise Men Thought
You Can Perhaps Give Better Answer to Periander's
Question Than Any One of Them Did.


month and the next he is fugitive in Holland wondering
whether he will stay
Socialism is put in Jail; Iiebknecht and Rosa Luxem
bourg are locked up each other Now Lbnecht and
Rosa Luxembourg helping to decide what shall be done
with the German empire.
s. While the Governments of Europe breaking down
or blowing up changing from auocacy to revolution and
from revolution to anarchy, it is well for Americans 70
devote thought their Government to its preservation and
plans for improving it. For the construction OF Detter
government is the important work Of man
We live under government think little about it, as
take for granted sunshine, fresh air and rain
Yet everything in government the result Of thousands
Of years of struggle thinking, fighting and sacrifice
Soon from this country and other countries men viii
gather in Paris deciding for the nations what is good gov
eminent and what is justice.
It will interest you this Sunday to look back two
thousand four hundred years ago. to dinner party given
by Fernandez the rant who ruled COrnth in the sixth
century before Christ.
Behaved man. anxious to govern well asking good advice.
he soon changed as you shall hear.
historical personages who actually lived and dealt in govern
g BE asked each of them the question: "what is your
Here are the answers of the seven wise men What
you think of them; how much can you improve on them?
soIon generally accepted as the wises of the WISE sa
that the best government 'hat in which injury done
to the least Of its citizens is an injury done to all"
Thales whom the scientists look upon the wisest Of
all the ancents said the best government that where
the rich neither too rich nor the poor too poor
Jewish blood invented Geometry.
he is the father Of that science and is the first
that predicted eclipse Of the The eclipse came
announced, and the Medes and Lyd1ans engaged IN
great battle which called "The Battle Of the Night
stopped their fighting when the sun went out and went
home.
Bias one of the seven wise men concerning whom we
knew little defined the best government as that where the
law has no superior"
That you will say depends good deal what the
law is.
Anacharss the scyhan one of the finest characters
history, answered.
To honor virtue and detest vice by no means all Of
good government. To combat poverty, and overcome
ignorance, is at least as important
Pittacus said: "Where dignes are always conferred
on the good, never on the bad"
And Cleobolus who twenty -four hundred years ago
demanded thorough education for women, and the
father Of very smart girl named UeObulne gave this
definition: Where the citizens fear blame more than
punishment"
That also sounds well But you will find that condition
in boys school, among immature minds. The boy will
rather be whipped than "ten on comrade. He fears
punishment less than the contempt Of the other boys But
that doesn't make good government.
Chic, the Spartan, gave this definition: Where the
laws regarded and have authority than the
orators"
It is saying something that doesn't anything in
particular Merely to have government in which laws
can Withstand the attack Of oratoy wouldn't be much help
So much for what the seven wise Greeks at the banquet
Of the tyrant said.
The average intelligent American high school student
who has read about the government experiments for twenty
four hundred years since that dinner given could give
better definitions.
Government is combination of rules and regulations
called laws that adopt of their accord or have
forced upon them The laws being planned to protect the
majority when the majority rule to favor minority or
an individual when the individual the minority force
the laws upon the majority.
Even In the best governed countries the laws are
combination of the partly planned protect ALL partly
protect individuals minority in the possession Of
especial privilege.
Human beings rule get the laws they deserve the
best that their mental development makes possible They
also get about the best religions that they capable
sppreciating
s To return to the interesting banquet given by Pc
snder the tyrant to the seven wise men Observe how