The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1923-10-10

Self-eovernment means seh-supp0rt.
Man is born into the universe with person
atty that is his own. He has right that is
founded upon the constitution Of the universe te
have property that is his own. Ultimately, pro-
perry rights and personal rights the same
thing The one cannot be preserved if the other
be violated. Each man is entitled to his rights
and the rewards Of his service be they never
so large or never SO small.
History reveals no civilized people among
whom there were not highly educated class, and
large aggregations of wealth, represented usually
by the clergy and the nobility. Inspiration has
always come from above. Diffusion of learning
has come down from the university to the com
mon school-the kindergarten is last. No one
would now expect to aid the common school by
abolishing higher education.
It may be that the diffusion of wealth works
in an analogous way. As the little red school.
house is builded in the college, it may be that
the fostering and protection of large aggregations
of wealth are the only foundation on which ia
build the prosperity of the whole people. Large
profits mean large pay rolls. But profits must
be the result of service performed In no land
are there so many and such large aggregations
of wealth as here; in no land do they perform
~SN
bring SO large reward in material and spiritual
welfare.
Do the days work If it be to protect the
rights of the weak, whoever objects, do it. If
it be to help powerful corporation better to
serve the people, whatever the opposition, do
that. Expect to be called standpatter, but
don't be standpatter. Expect to be called a
demagogue, but don't be a demagogue. Don't
hesitate to be as revolutionary as science. Don't
hesitate to be as reactonary as the multiplication
table. Don't expect to build up the weak by pull
ing down the strong. Don't hurry to legislate.
Give administration a chance to catch up with
legislation.
We need broader, frmer, deeper faith in
the people, faith that men desire to do right,
that the commonwealth is founded upon a righte-
BUSINESS which will endure, reconstructed faith
that the final approval Of the people is given not
to demagogues, slavishly pandering to their sell
fishness, merchandising with the clamor of the
hour, but to statesmen, ministering to their well
fare representing their Deep silent, abiding con-
victions.
Statutes must appeal to more than material
welfare. Wages won't satisfy, be they never so
large Nor houses; nor lands; nor coupons,
though they fall thick as the leaves of autumn.
Man has a spiritual nature. Touch it and II
must respond as the magnet responds to the pole.
To that, not to selfishness, let the laws OF the
commonwealth appeal. Recognize the immortal
worth and dignity of man. Let the laws OIL
Massachusetts, proclaim to her humblest CITIZEN
performing the most mental task, the recogni-
t;on Of his manhood, the recognition that all men
are peers, the humblest with the most exalted
the recognition that all work is glorified. Such
is the path to equality before the law. Such IS
the foundation of liberty under the law. Sucn
is the sublime revelation of mans relation to
democracy.