Grand Forks herald., 1919-12-26

tential wealth, and it is conceivable
that even tho enormous sums of mon
ey which will necessarily be spent be-
fore these experiments have been
worked out will not be too great to
invest in the economic education Of
q million people, and their descend
ants. -~s-
But there is q price which is too
great to pay, even for education. If
money is lost. it may be regained, or,
failing that, we may get along with
out it. But the corruption and deg
relation of the very life Of a people
is 2 price too high to pay. even for
economic education. And it is that
process of corruption and degradation
which is in progress now.
The very existence of social or
ganization, involves the idea of re-
straint. Not only must the actions of
the individual be restrained by the
we'll ordered decisions of the society,
but the Individual must cultivate
within himself the capacity for and
the habit Of restraint, SO that the de-
cisions to which he contributed as a
member. of the society shall be we'll
considered and demonstrably in ac-
cord with right and justice, instead
of being the mere expression OF pass
ing, whim and passion. To that end
we have given expression to certain
principles in our fundamental laws,
and we have from time to time made
concrete application of them in the
enactment of statutes. These laws
are not immutable. But if the social
organization which they are. intended
to serve is to endure it is essential
that they be changed only for suffi-
cient cause and upon due considera-
ton. and that until they are so chang
ed they shall he observed everywhere
as the citizens rule of conduct.
We are growing impatient of re-
straint and contemptuous of all rules.
Where the constitution of our state
stands in the way Of irstant action
we first devise ways to change it. on
short notice under conditions. which
make thoughtful consideration i'm
possible, and when even that ready
method proves inadequate we ignore
and override the constitution and the
statutes, assuming, as one legislator
expressed it during the late extra ses
sion, that "the majority can do any
thing"
The destruction of regard for law,
which is the one thing that gives per
mAnence to society. is too high a price
to pay for demonstration in eco
nomfcs.
Our democracy. because of ou1
numbers, is necessarily representa-
tive. lts logical operation requires
the selection by the masses Of men
OF ability who are fairly representa-
tive of their constituents in matters
of importance, who shall assemble
and deliberate, each exercising his best
judgment In tho issues to be decided
Instead. we are operating under q
system in which members of a par
ticular class, organized into a, close
corporation. declare: We are the peo-
pie" and subordinate citizenship I'd
membership in their organization, and
the members fof this. group permit
their own political acts to be dictat-
ed and their policies framed By an
authority which few of them dare de-
fy and none of them can control.
Submission to a persona. dictator-
ship Is too high price to pay for an
economic education.
When decent citizens permit them
selves to drift into an attitude OF con-
tempt for laws which Temporarily Inn
pede. the realization of their innocent
desires, they are bound to he thrown
Into sym pathetic relation toward
lawless persons who are not decent.
and whose desires are not innocent.
Hence We have q situation in which
tho man who commands the allegi-
ance Of fifty thousand respectable
citizens OF North Dakota, himself q
iconvietsd criminal, found guilty $of
preaehing ssdition when the country
twaS Il war, consorting by himsslf or
'throuSh his aSsnts With criminal in
Aividnals and criminal organisations.
.gvinE ala and comfort to anarehisn,
IN III ~ vafted and malignant forms,
ana ipegita6ly involving . large ,ee-
.ttoa Of reputable citizens OF this state
Ia = distaatsfnL lncoppatible and de-
strpctfve rciationship. 6
Pfo0ress towaed vtelsst aaareklIn