Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-12-08
WHAT is THE MATTER?

Our forefathers founded a repuplic-the first
form OF popular government to give real evidence
OF stability in the protection Of personal rights
The rights of minorities were set down in the con-
sttuton and made invioable; orderly processes OF
the law made mandatory; limitations were
fixed upon the authority of officers, checks and
balances were arranged to restrain departments
which might tend toward autocracy; limitations
were put upon spontaniety of action, that we
might not do in haste that for which would re-
pent at leisure. A hundred and thirty years has
shown that it all very wise.
The tendency of government, in administration,
is to become centralized and autocratic. The ten
dency of the populace, always rritated by incurred
wrongs, is to take power away from those who have
it and give 1t to some one else. Our founders in
tended that this should be remedy, but they
planned that we should indure ills until the
time for regular elections and then GUST unworthy
servants. Our modern tendency Is toward the crea-
ton Of innumerable boards and commissions We
try to by additional supervision instead of by
eiectment from office. Worthy officials need only
moderate supervision; unworthy ones can not be
made worthy by espionage
Our great need is to return to the control of
government at its source--on election day. pub
lie sentiment which will not endure candidates I'M
less they be of high character will most of
administrative evils. We elect scoundrels weak
lings to office knowing them to be such, and then
complain of the defects Of system of govern
ment."
This evil of incompetency and dishonesty in
office not be cured by the creation OF more
governmental agencies The creation of a higher
moral sentiment in matters of our public relations
is the great hope of better government. 1t is true
that added governmental activities require added
departments but that is not the subject under dis
cusson. The people will get good admins
tration they require, and no better regardless of
added complications in governmental machinery.
But the demand must be at the polls election
day and not on the street corner, ad interim.
The initiative, the referendum and the recall
devices to fortify the moral Incidence of the voter
They may possess certain curative value where
lack of moral alertness among the voters has per-
mtted irresponsible irresponsible govern
ment to creep in, but we adopt them at the peril
of departing from historic form of republican
government and thus drifting more and more to-
ward pure democracy. Pure democracies have
always proven too volatile and therefore unstable.
No added machinery is necessary for the people
of New Mexico to take charge of their own govern
ment, If they really wish to do 1t. But so
indolent that every conceivable device which prom
Uses to make the task easier finds its advocates
Perhaps of them are necessary-we do not
attempt to say.
What we do say is that we need the same mora,
qualities citizens which possess individuals.
The theft Of public monies should shock us as Sc
verey as the burglary OF bank. Extravaganza
and waste by public officials should be regarded as
being reprehensble similar conduct on the
part of the guardian of baby.
Candidates for public office should be required
to possess character beyond all suspicion and an
unselfish interest in serving the people
Why not face the facts? Why lay the blame foe
the defects of citizens at the door
of our system of government?
The deterioration in this moral sense among the
people probably Is attributable largely to the sys-
tematic cultivation among the people by the poll
ticians Of the idea Of party loyalty These worthless
attempt to have feel that party loyalty is vir-
tue, whereas 1t becomes vice whenever it obscures
our moral sense and leads to support. in the
name of party regularity that which is wrong or
candidates who are uniformly.
Honest, efficient and responsive government will
come when we demand it and when We punish
political parties for offering us unworthy candidates