Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-09-11

grSIafive branchtS OH our Govern
ment. The choice which lies before
the voters is not between the Repub-
lican Party and some ideal organi-
cation which never made mistake.
The choice is much simpler than
that,-it is a choice between the Re
publican Party and the Democratic
Party.
American Economics
Principles, not personalities, should
be expounded and debated throughout
the length and the breadth Of the
land. The way out is not with the
muck-rake. Gossip and scandal will
not cure. We must educate ourselves
that we shall wash pettiness out of
our lives individually and Nationally
we must legislate and we must
prosecute but principally we must
practice what we preach. The issues
fundamentally are economic. They
are clear cut, and they must be fully
and honestly presented to the people.
Men and women are now engaged in
sober consideration of the problems
of REIMBURSEMENT. These problems are
just as important to the future well
fare of the nation and to every in
dividual citizen, as were the pro-
blems of war. Civilization is being
tactod DC y,a1yay. hafora E,,ro,o ;e ~
chaos, and because of selfishness and
greed, the different contending ele-
ments may destroy each other, and
tear down all that has been builded in
five centuries of Christian, moral pro-
gress. That the United States should
entirely escape this world unrest was
too much to be expected, and we have
those among US who would, if they
could, destroy all existing govern
ment and all successful Industries.
Responsibilities of Citizenship
We are in the midst of crisis such
as comes to nations and civilizations
when the peace of continued prosper
ity or the despair of political and &C.
onomic disorders are the stakes at
issue. The questions that confront us
today affect the counting-house as
well as the home The rights of
every citizen must be made equal
and the people must realize that the
Government looks to them to do their
part in the betterment of the COM
mon lot, for to all of us the public
welfare is in nation of sordid, grovell-
ing time-servers. 1t is people who
own their homes, who love liberty
and good morals, and who hope to
rear their children in cleanliness
and intelligence This applies as
fully to the humble as to the rich
And | believe, as did Abraham Lin
coin, in the virtue and the saving
grace-the Drawn and the sinew-of
the plain everyday people of this
Nation. They are the bulwark of
every free State. The corruption
that wrecks governments never be-
gins with this class-it always strikes
first in high places-and debauches
those who can neither direct their
energies nor control their purposes.
Greed V. Liberty
This is a campaign to stabilize
floating conditions and strengthen
the very structures of government it
self. Every American citizen has a
solemn duty to perform. 1t is a sac
red unacceptable duty to see that I'M
renting welfare is carried on a.
gainst every existing evil until the
fostering ulcer of corruption is cut
out of the body polite. If you, my
fellow citizens, fail your country now
1t greed, power and selfishness, and
corruptly inspired animosties are
to triumph in this election, then your
self-respect and your liberty are lost.
This is not a time for complacency,
but for earnest, energetic action. If
the people fail now to do their duty in
meeting and determining the issue
which everyone knows is before u.s.
the issue of honest and sane govern
ment,-then reaction and the slow
death of our free institutions will
come, as did the decline and fall Of
Rome, when money,-not Justice
was power; and When men and wo-
man bartered their honor and exchan-
men bartered their honor and ex-
changed their consciences for the
golden gifts Of a sordid world.
{ Economic Laws Supreme
The Government, whether Repub-
lican or Democratic, is usually held
responsible for everything that does
not suit US. When the price of farm
products is low, due to surplus pro
! duction, the farmer is told to blame
! the Government. If it is not the Gov
eminent. If it is not the Government
| If iS IIsuallv Wall Street that ic a1Iao