Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-16
TRYING TO UPSET THE BAL.
ANCE

1In Maine, with IS per cent. OF
cur people of American parentage
End native born, the Indifference OF
the average citizen toward the gov.
eminent is deplorable. Our natural
ICED citizens and those born here of
non naturalized parents, are inclined
to take their obligations Of citizen
ship more seriously than those who
comprise the 70 per cent. above re-
ferred to. This intensifles our prob
lcn.-Governor Baxter.
Before we native born residents of
this country set about Americanizing
the immigrant we ought in all fair
ness, to inquire what that may do to
him. VIII 1t cause him to be az in
different to our civic obligations az
so many of us are?
President Coolidge, addressing the
Daughters Of the American Revolu-
ton Tuesday, was aware Of the in
difference characterizing the attitude
OF 80 many long time residents Of
this country and of the great need
that they bestir themselves. AL
though descendants of those who
fought the fight, which made our
form of government possible. it does
not necessarily follow that they are
fighting with eternal vigilance to pre-
serve that which we have gained.
Somewhere. somehow there will al
ways be some scheme afoot to change
Cur government. Right now an In
fuential effort Is being made to
break up the two-party system, 20
change this country from q republic
with two great parties to a democ-
racy, ruled by blocs and cliques. COM
bining, dickering to the injury OF the
Iublic's business. The overturn In
Italy which lifted Mussolini into
command came about because of the
futility and worse Of the clique gov
eminent. He recently had a law
passed that any party securing ma
jority Of tho votes, however small
that might be, should have two
thirds representation in parliament
so there might be a working majority
and the attending responsibility,
which is the opposite OF that for
which the radicals in this country are
striving.
Another balance which has proven
20 effective in this country, ana
which the radicals are trying to up
set by undermining the court and
bulldozing the executive. was thus
described by the President IN MS
address to the d. a. r. and 1t Will De
well to keep 1t in mind:
Here in America we are living I'M
der a form OF Democratic Repuohcan
institutions which / profoundly pe-
lieve to be the best that has yet been
thoroughly tested. l say this because
orr system has gone so far in care
fully Separating the different depart
ments Of the government. In the
carly development of popular insu-
tutions the legislative and executive
authorities were divided. But not
until the founders of our republic
lad made a further distribution ana
differentiation OF functions WAS
nopular government assured the OPP
portunity to prove Its case. Wnen
the judicial function was SET apar ,t
and made the third independent ous
ccordinating factor In the form OF
Government, the scheme OF per-
fsctsd democratic republication was
for the nrst time presented to the
world. That was the great oontriou u.
Mon made by the founding fathers IN IN
mr. cnnstitution. BY virtue OF 1t the
people were at last assured eauaTts
against the tyranny of any despotic
sxecutive and the tyranny OF any
slespotic legislature. Neither OF tns
nor both of them togetner. ~, pnn
. Anfaurc1aaa peODle,