Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1919-12-02
POLITICS AND
PATRIOTISM

/ The true principals and the right
practice of American politics were
never better presented than they were
by Win II. Hays, chairman of the Re-
publican National Committee, in his
address to the Republican editors of IL
linois at Springfield Friday night. 1t /
was party address, delivered by the
head of the party organization. but it
was broader and higher than any
party; as broad, in fact, as the whole /
sweep of America. and as high as the
ideals that have made America what /
II is. 1t was a party address, yet II /
lany Democrat can read 1t without APP \
prevail of its general principals then,
we say, there is something lacking In |
his Americanism. For Mr.. Hays made !
very clear, impressively clear, the |
fact we so often forget, that the sole I
purpose of party is service, that it is |
only means to an end, not an end In |
itself and that unless 1t justifes itself
by its conduct and its deeds. 1t has
failed in its mission and is unworthy
of support. We are to. prone to think |
that the measure of party success is
the election of party candidates., but
II
The thing that counts comes after
| wards. Il say that a successful polit-
zeal party's objective" said Mr. Hays. 4
lis a record OF a faithful discharge OIL
a sacred contracturalt obligation tol
l the people. There is but one Kind OF
successful politics and that is the poll
itics of faithful. efficient and Honest
administration"
The political party is an instrument
But who makes the instrument and
of what material Is 1t constructed?
There is much easy condemnation OF
politicians" and of practical poll
tics" but who is to blame IL these
men and these methods are often not
what they should be? Mr.. Hays told
a characteristic story of Roosevelt,
who, when very young man, made
ready to attend ward political meet
ing. Some of his family objected, tell
ing him he ought not to mix with the
class of people he would meet there.
'They are the governing class" said
Roosevelt, land you are not because
they will and you won't" Dishonest
politicians and corrupt politics would
not exist il the people did not permit
them to exist. II plead for a patriot
ism in peace as well as In war" said
Mr.. Hays. Let us have the patriot
ism that moves men to make their
country's welfare their own business
and in prosaic times of peace interest
themselves continually in the practical
politics of their community. Good
government is possible in no other
way. Government functions
through individuals. These individ
i uals are elected through the processes
III OF practical politics, sequence which
cannot be avoided. We can have bet
ter government only il we interest
ourselves in politics, in the selection
ii of those to whom this government Is
intrusted, in having thought and voice
in its operation, and in making our
country's affairs our own business"
That, we say, is not only practical poll
: tiles, it is practical patriotism Par
II ties have no virtue in themselves save
It as they draw virtue from their adher-
3 ents. Principles are of no value I'M
ID less they are applied. There is nothing
ID sacred in label Nor can govern
,r ment be operated by memories. A par
f. ty Is an organization of living people
not OF dead ones, and we can only use
the past as stepping stone to the
+. future. We may be rightly proud OF
III its record and draw inspiration from
at its achievements but the problems OF
today must be solved by the men OF
today, even as the Americans of yes
terday solved their own problems IL
their own time.
And these are times of problems
greater than those with which oui
fathers had to deal "Of all times II
our countrys history said Mr. Hays
when the sense of the responsibility,
for the preservation of our institu
tons and the welfare of our people
must weigh upon thinking people thii
is the supreme moment. The prob
lens which are-ahead are infrneasur
able in their completely and magni
tude" How are they to be solved
And by whom? These are solemn
questions for thinking citizens,
and every citizen of the United State
of America should be thinking. cit
izen. now of all times. This is rep
resentative republic, and 1t Is through
our representatives chosen by the pro
cesses of practical politics" that tn
way to our future must be cleared
Whom are we to choose? And hoy
are we to make sure that they ar
worthy of the trust? Everything be
ponds upon right answers. They ar
political questions, they are part
questions, and only through party pre-
cesses can they be answered. Pol
tics is the expression. the only e,
preston of citizenship, and either
Ship is responsibility that shout
walk arm in arm with patriotism, tina
abiding patriotism which needs no We
to arouse it, but is everything TIL
Globe Democrat is glad that the hea
of the great Republican organizatio
has sounded the keynote of the comm
campaign-for his address is nothif
less-upon a harp with such string
and with a chord that must stir Il
profoundest feelings Of American p
triotism. This is no time" he sa.
"for little things" No, 1t is time II
big things. time when big thin
must be done If we are to pro
worthy of our heritage. and they CT
not be rightly done unless we bring
the task the collective wisdom, RICH
eousness and devotion Of true. int