The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-12-09
GREENE RAPS
CENTRALIzINC
GOVERNMENT
Vermont Congressman In
Attack Upon New
Tendency

man Frank l.. Greene of Vermont
in q letter to former assistant sec
rotary Of the Treasury Louis A.
Coolidge, which is printed this
week in the Congressional Record
declares that through one devise
and another of patelnalism a "mis-
guided public interest is persistent
ly uprooting the local self-govern-
ment that has bred strong men and
women for the conduct of nation
al affairs, and characterizes this
policy as "Old World remedies
brought over here to cure coun-
try that isn't sick" and "the vain
inventions Of political doctors who
, ar desperately struggling to dose
into a few more fiickers of life
are desperately struggling to dose
social order Of lands across the
sea-"
In this situation Col. Greene
sees "the most important general
political issue confronting the
American people today and one up
on which the future character of
our government and social order
depends" The letter conveys the
writer's regret at not being able
to attend the mass meeting in
Boston Of the newly organized
Sentinals of the Republic, whose
slogan is: every citizen a senti-
nal; every home a sentry box, and
continues in part as follows:
That last phrase tells the whole
story. every home a sentry box.
The genius of the English-speak-
ing civilization from earliest days
has ever made the hearthstone
both the foundation and the shrine
OF its social order. Civic liberty
was born at the fireside, was rear
ed and made strong by experience
i'll local self-government, and for
ever reneWd itself in successive
generations of men and women
who did not expect the Nations
government to do for them what
they ought to do for themselves
at home.
This American experiment in
civics was originally meant to be
a popular government, deriving its
just powers from the consent Of
the governed" proceeding from
the countless hearthstoneS of the
land to Washington, and not des-
cending from Washington upon the
hearthstones. The sturdy old idea
OF a sturdy old generation was chat
chat was the best government that
governed least and still maintained
a healthy social order Faithful 70
that policy, free government in
America WaXed and prosperd for
many years.
But nowadays a misguided public
interest is persistently uprooting
the local self-govrnment that has
bred strong men and women for
the conduct of national affairs, is
centralizing the government in
well-nigh innumerable bureaus
and commissions at Washington,
and through one device and anoth-
er Of paternalism is seducing the
ancient spirit Of independence and
self-reliance among our people,
gradually bringing them to be de-
pendent upon the will and favor of
politicians in the National Capital
and implanting in them an ever
growing sense of responsibility
and ease that can in the end but
breed generation Of parasites and
helpless dependents with whom no
so-called free government could
either actually govern or be free.
Every home a sentry box. 1t
is time to rouse the multitude to
am understanding Of the danger
that confronts them and their chill
den and their children's children.
These paternahstic devices now be-
ing introduced to a people whose
forbears would have Indignantly
repealed the attempt to paupelize
them are but the vain intentions of
political doctors who are desper-
ately struggling to dose into a few
more flickers Of life the decaying
civic institutions and social order
Of lands across the sea. They are
desperate Old World attempts to
keep an outraged multitude quiet
yet a little while longer. They are
Old World remedies brought over
here to cure a country that isn't
sick.
every home a sentry box" Let
US higly resolve to restore the
old balance of power between the
States and the Federal Govern
ment in every respect consistent
with national integrity and safe
ty. Let US restore to the fullest
practical measure the old spirit and
policy of local self-govelnment
among our people. Let US bend
our energies as far as may be upon
the idea of developing the strength
Of the Nation through the nursery
Of the home and the home com
munity. The Government at
Washington can never be any
stronger than the homes it comes
out of. Let US maintain all the gov
eminent we can at home, where
we can keen orr ewes IN II