Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1910 — NEW NATIONALISM. [ARTICLE]

NEW NATIONALISM.

Very few persons in the transactions of every-day life -top to analyze the motives by which their actions are - prompted, nor is it ordinarily desirable to <!■> so. If a marl has truly adopted for his guidance fundamental principles of justice, truth .kindness and devotion to duty, he will come to act- spontaneously and ; almost uncoh-ciously in accordance with the principles : but the principles must be there, deeply imbeded and genuinely embraced and assimilated. Otherwise his action will be determined by passing whim*. mere selfish preference*. the dictates of slothfulness. or the suggestion of the first man -he happens to meet. There are, of course, minor matters to be decided in which no question of principle is involved, and Occasions arise when before deciding on a course <:d action it is necessary to consider carefully whether it will conform to his principles. Much the same conditions exist in the field of political action as in the sphere of every-day life. Manv voters have no political principles, but cast their ballots from prejudice, personal preference. mere party association, or. too often, as a matter of bargain and sale, or to oblige a friend. In very many elections it makelittle difference, for there is nothing Of real importance involved. But there come occasion? when it is vital to-the general welfare that the voters should possess principle.-, and be guided by them. Needless to say, the. .approaching election is one of those occasions, and every voter, especially those who are for the first time exercising the greatest privilege of citizenship, ought to consider carefully and fully comprehend the importance and significance and the possible result>>f what he is about to do. We a- a people hold the suffrage far too lightTv in esteem. It is a seri. us trust, on the proper discharge of which hang- < nr destine a- a people. -(hrr father-, with infinite toil ami sacrifice, and with what lias come to be regarded a- almost superhuman wisdom, devised and established for us a form of government which, more than any other that has ever existed., has contributed to human happiness and progress. The main purpose thev had in view, besides providing for the general defense and -ecuring domestic tranquility, was to put forever beyond question the securing of individual liberty and rights, and. while leaving all local matter- wholly to the states'. to establish a gen eral government with enumerated [lowers indisputable in its -phere. They did not intend to set up a pure democracy or ochlocracy. The government they created was representative all the way throughout. Its powers were carefully distributed among the Legislative. Executive and Judicial Departments, and provision was made for their independence and co-ordination. The function of the Executive was expressely confined to comniand of the military, appointments to office and the enforcement of the laws, for all history had taught that danger to liberty almost invariably springs from irresponsible and tyrannical executives. It was recognized by the makers of the constitution that the science of governmetTTlg.We ni fst difficult ot all sciences, re miring for its mastery and. succes-ful administration a high order of ability and careful training! These , simple general political principles ought to be as ..universally adopted American citizens as are principles guiding conduct and ought to result in the sarhe spontaneous action insuring their perpetuation and observance. W hile this can generally be depended on to guide the citizen aright, there come crises when he should make certain, by referring back to 'first principles. that he is not going to violate them, and such crises is at hand The young should be thoroughly'grounded in them.

and every first voter should ask himself first of all whether the ballot he is about tp past is calculated to conserve and further them. -y : There is on foot a powerful and dangerous movement to subvert and overturn them. tween the co-ordinate departIt destroy? the relation bements. lodging substantially all i power 'with the executive, subjects all officials to removal at t:e whim of the multitude, does a wav wholly with our represen-i ‘.afive* system. belittles the judiciary. and. at a time when, within ten years, ten million for-j eigner.-. mostly ignorant, have been injected into our citizen-j ship, proposes to submit to the ' [direct action of the populace alii intricate questions of statecraft, i It invldes property rights by limiting accommodation, and, by [ prescribing how a man may make his money and how he must: -pend it. and. under a plea of efficiency. transfers all the powers reserved to the -tales to the General Government. It is the duty of good citizens to resist dangerous tendencies. Everv new voter deaf to the frothy declamation which Urges the abandonment of the constitution and the sacrifice of principles in order to speedily put in effect some untested policy with no foundation in sound oolit’cal philosophy, and to forward such rchemes for personal aggrandizement. 'shotfid make it his first object to so cast hi- vote as. if p»-sible. to aid in giving to this propoganda a lasting quietus.— Cincinnati Enquirer.