Smyrna times., 1924-03-26

tleth century widely different thing
from that of the eighteenth. There
are some to whom this fact seems
cause for radical change in govern
ment. There are others to whom it
seems no warrant for any change
whatever. These are. at the two ex-
tremes. They are intolerant of each
other. The former call the latter re-
dictionaries, defenders of privilege.
And these retort that the others are
red radicals and the enemies of or
der. The truth lies with neither" he |
declared.
"The vital problem of our age" he
continued, "is to determine how our
laws and government may be adapted
to changes and changing conditions
without violating or repudiating their
basic principles.
I'm our concern for the exigencies
of the hour we forget the claims that
the future has upon us. We are pre-
occupied with a soldiers bonus, the
proper per cent for the reduction of
the income tax, and as to which poll
tical party is responsible for the last
public scandal. Each has its import
ance, doubtless, but none of them will
make history or shape the course of
human development.
at is no journeyman-thinker's task,
this. 1t is not one for the "Babbitts"
and boosters" the men and women
who take their literature from the
moving picture, their music from the
phonograph and their political opin-
ions from the party organ. The men
in public or private life who subordi-
nate judgement and principle and con-
science to party expedience, will con-
tribute nothing to it."
Public Opinion Force
| In discussing the limitations of the
ltwo-party system, Mr. Ridgely made
it clear that it was the only practical
method we had today to handle the
situation. 81 an not attacking or even
criticising the argument for party or
ganization or party. loyalty" he stat
ed. "There is a very practical reason
for both. What l want is that when
you make your decision it shall be
based on reason and not on ignorance
or prejudics." The original trainers of
the constitution realized that the vote
of the ignorant was strong, he pointed
out, but "what they counted on was
the pressure of enlightened public
: opinion not on the machinery of gov
= eminent direct, but indirectly through
: its influence on the peoples represen-
tatives and government officials"
: Public opinion, he insisted, as the
most potent force in the world today
l 1t is the public opinion which the en-.
lightened minds must mold, he declar.
+. ed, because "Its possibilities are ire
, mendous. But they may be for gooC
or for i'll. The present-day has nc
more serious problem than to deter.
mine on which side public opinion
shall cast its irresistible weight.
t at is right here that, to my mind
lies the great opportunity of the con
5 scientious and enlightened private
citizen. At the polls, his ballot count!
Y for no more than the most ignoran
and narrow-minded voters, but in hi!
power to shape and mold public opin
S ion by the use of his training ant
n talents, there is no comparison be
d tween the two"
g In concluding his lecture, Mr.. Ridg
e ely asked the students to mold
e philosophy for themselves, for he VIII
= does as the wise man who compine
the best of both; who tempers his'con
: servatism with the true liberalism
+ and his liberalism with the fine con
! servatism. 1t is not an impOssibl
n achievement"