Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1917 — THE PEOPLE, ALWAYS RIGHT [ARTICLE]

THE PEOPLE, ALWAYS RIGHT

It has been the conviction of the greatest statesman of all ages and all countries that one could safely trust to the decision of the majority of the people on any question that affected t|em. The public mind and conscience is nicely attuned to the public welfare and seldom goes astray. Given a free hand in the working out of their destiny, no people would ever come to grief. It is only when self-seek-ing and deceitful leaders becloud issues for their own selfish purposes that the people are seduced.

So much preliminary to the as- ■ section that the American people—the great, sober, reasoning majority—are right today. Without fuss and feathers they have decreed a : course of action that shall preserve phe national weal and the national honor, and they are not likely to be lightly turned from that course. “Vox populi, vox Dei,’’ never had a more direct application than to i t'he attitude of the American peoi pie in the present world crisis. Be- ' ing, then, the supreme power, the ! voice of the people should not only ■ have, but exercise, supreme author- ! ity. This we are failing to do. Our government is putting forth most herculean efforts to pilot the ship of state through the troubled waters, but they are hampered on , every hand by those who, from a , self interest that exceeds their loyI alty, persist in throwing every obstruction possible in the way. This should not be, must not be. The lives of the thousands of young men who .have responded to their country’s call must not be jeopardized by the Judas at home. It is time that the great loyal majority demand that the voice of the objector and obstructionist be si-lenced-—if ■ not one way, then another. There is something crooked about

a “conscience” that, persists in arraying itself against the national conscience. Such a “conscience - ’ is the creature of many and varied influences, none of which make for the best interests of American life. It is time the reactionary were silenced. The people have spoken, and their verdict should be final. The traitor to his country should feel that country’s displeasure in no light degree. , ■ ■