Evening star., 1922-03-26
BYTHOMAs n. MARSHALL,
former Vice President Of the United

States.
YE have been, SO busy
NN since the world war
v v considering our inter-
national affairs and de-
vising ways to settle up that we
have had no time to decide wheth-
er or not we ought to settle down.
and, If SO. upon what principles of
internal government we ought to
settle. Men who are obsessed
with the Importance and vitality Of
name are greatly perturbed over
the appearance of "blocs" in the
Congress. They cannot under
stand why "blocs" should have
arisen. They view with amusement
senators and representatives who
long were bitterly opposed to each
otners theories OF government
burytng In a sea of forgetfulness
thelr ancient grievances and now
hobnobbing in common cause.
Much as we are loath to admit
II. the fact remains that the clear.
cut divisions which once separated
political parties have disappeared.
their disappearance matters which
uaIs who champion t"t them, n''I,u but
which are of small moment in the
unending life Of the republic, have
come to the fore. Democrats have
ceased to be for a tariff for reve-
nue. only and are championing the
protective theory to the extent at
least Of protecting the interests Of
rko TI1fx
line of distinct demarkation be-
tween parties has disappeared
from legislative halls. The trend
today Is a distinct movement to-
. ward special interests. and so LONG
as this trend prevails. Jefferson
may proclaim the equality Of men,
Burns may hold that "the rank is
put the guinea's stamp" and the
Boston Boston abolitlonist. viewing the
Gods image carved in ebony"
but the fact will remain that
those who seek special PRIVILEGES
believe themselves better than
their fellowmen, and SO believing
Will seek laws to insure ii.
The attitude of the ayerane man
today is inexplicable. l am amazed
at the appeals which-politicias ad-
dress to him. I flnd myself won-
dering whether this unc-owned
king will some day take it into his
head to denounce the appeals and
rebuke those who make them.
From one stump I hear a man ad.
dressing himself exclusively so
farmers. depicting their well
known grievances and urging them
to rise up in their might and rec
tify those grievances regardless OF
the effect OF their conduct unon
countless other citizens OF til. re-
pubic. From another stuihp ! hear
the advocate of union labor dwell
ing upon the grievances of the
laborins men and calling to him to
close ranks and to make a faht
and win a victory :or his special
benef1t. Can 1t be shat we are less
interested IN bet.ering our own
worse the condition Of others? Has
not the shell shock "f the war suf-
hciently exhausted its effects upon
the judgment and conscience of the
American voter to induce him to
repudiate these pleas and reject with
scorn suggestions that tlis govern
ment was instituted to furnish him q
livelihood in the occupation which
he by choice follows' II would
American would resen. a stump
orators appeal to his condition
rather than to his conscience-to
his diamond shirtstud if he hap
pens to be a rich man or to his
dirty shirt If he be laborer.
4 X II X
Notwithstanding the disappear
ance Of great principles Of gov
ernment which at one time
divided political parties in Ameri-
ca, it cannot be said that there ex-
list no longer divergent political
principles in American life. There
remain a goodly number of those
who believe in the old system of
government and who still are con-
WINGED that the general welfare Of
the people is to be subscrved by
its maintenance. And others there
are who look on the old prlnci-
pies as they would on frayed and
worn out garments, UNIT to clothe
the nakedness OF presen: human
needs. Unfortunately, neither of
these classes votes exclusively
either the democratic or repub-
ican ticket. Until their members
conclude to get together in one
party or the other, the bloc system
Of government will continue ami
will grow and become more doni-
nant. We shall have recovered from
the effects of the war when some
political party shall have the cour-
age to proclaim certain principleE