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SEPTEMBER 16M904
up force must break its way out. Then, too, an
official needs the aid of his enemies. They point
out mistakes and utter warnings against errors.
,An enemy is often more frank than the friend and
therefore is often more useful. "0, that mine
enemy would write a book'!' is the greatest tribute
ever paid to, the value of free speech and it is at
the same time a tribute to the wisdom and sin
cerity of the one who uttered the sentiment. The
ruler usually 'Iras to pay. his friends for their as
sistance but with free speech and a free press he
secures the service of his enemies without com
pensation as promise of reward. Free government
is impossible without freedom of speech and press;
despotism is impossible when speech and press
are unfettered. The czar has.' earned, the gratitude
of his countrymen and the respect "of the world
by the evidence which he has just given of his
progressive spirit. Now, if he will permit the
people to participate in- the making of the laws
and invite them to 'express themselves freely on
public men and public "measures, he will not only
immortalize himself but; still further endear 10 the
masses the child' whose birth has already brought
benefactions to the nation.
State Ownership of Railroads
Commenting upon Mr, Bryan's statement that
"it would be as easy to provide for interstate
conynerce over state railroads as it Is now to pro
vide for through freight and passenger rates
over different routes," the SJoux Oity (Iowa) Jour
nal, a republican paper, says:
It would seem that one tiling the t dis
tinguished and eloquent"' Nebraska might
' study1 to advantage Is the difference in the
' form of government existing in the German
empire and in the republic of the United
States. Under our constitution certain things .
are reserved to the general government, whilq
rights not reserved to the general government
inure to the states. The right "to regulate
commerce with .foreign nations, and among the
several states, and with Indian tribes," is re
served to the general government. It is not
i with Germany "Mr. Bryan has to do so much
as with the constitution of the United States.
Mr. Bryan a.t the outset spoke of a commission
to act under the authority of the states.. No
commission to the end in view would be pos
sible except as it had creation under authority
from the general government.
The Dubuque (la.) Telegraph, a democratic
paper, suggests that one way to overcome the ob
jection that a thing is unconstitutional is to amend
the constitution. The Telegraph adds: "But 'this
would not be necessary and Mr. Bryan did not
have a constitutional amendment in mind. The
federal government, under the powers conferred
upon it- by -the constitution, regulates interstate,
traffic on railroads owned by private corporations.
State ownership does not imply a denial of the
federal government's right to regulate such com
merce; the simple change in ownership would not
involve any part of the federal constitution. As
to the commissions to act under the authority of
the states, the Journal is aware that we nowhave
a commission useless and ornamental and expen
sive, it is true but we have it. Other states
have like commissions. They are not unlawful or
ganizations, nor would they be if the state owned
the railroads. With the latter condition obtain
ing, we might transform them into serviceable
bodies, make them supreme in the management
of the railroads within the state's territory, yet
keeping their powers purely within the state's
rights. These commissions, getting together, could
severally and jointly agree on such tariff or service
arrangements as would not conflict with the power
of the general government. And while they could
not themselves usurp the authority of the general ,
government, they could and would 'provide for
interstate commerce?
JJJ
The ilonetary Problem
Remembering that we have, so often been told
that the money question has been settled and
is no longer a proper theme for discussion, it is
interesting to read in a recent issue of the Wall
Street Journal, an editorial entitled: "The Mone
tary Problem."
Lately, the Journal has had a series of edi
torials, some relating to "the new money issue,"
others to "deposit currency," and others to "the
money of the future." The Journal says that these
editorials have brought many letters of-comment,
and adds that they ''display the remarkable inter
est which is taken in the money question and
, The Commoner
show how widely the problem is' being studied.
While admitting the oxlstence of "considerable in
telligent interest," the Journal would havo it
known that whatever changes aro to be ipadc
"must come gradually and slowly and as the result
of a general consensus of opinion." The Journal
takes great pains to say that It is highly Important
that our monetary system shall represent "the
general favor of the people;" and then this Wall
street publication concludes that "it would be
worso than useless to attempt any changes that
do not meet with the favor of the public opinion
of the wdrld."
Is an Injustice done the Wall Street Journal
when It Is suggested that in order to ascertain
"the gonerol favor of the people" we must ascer
tain what,thp financiers want? Is it not strange
that at thWh 'moment when republican newspapers
are assuring us that the money questlon'is entirely
dead perhaps, the most conspicuous financial
publication .of the country confesses that there is
a widespread interest in the monetary problem?
The Wall Street Journal circulates' largely
among financiers. It can not be that tho editor
of tho Journal would restrict the discussion of
the monetary problem to the circles where finan
ciers most do congregate. All the people aro
deeply interested in any problem affecting our
monetary system and if the financiers aro man
ifesting such a deep interest in the problem that
even the Wall Street Journal is required to con
fess that this subject is now seriously discussed
who will say that it is not entirely proper for the
people generally to participate in this discussion?
Even though we admit that the single gold
. standard has been "Irrevocably "established, as
one candidate puts it, or "permanently" settled
as the republican campaign, book has it, are not
. the American people deeply interested in the
proper settlement of questions involving asset cur-
' rency, branch banks, the destruction of the silver
dollar, the retirement of the greenbacks, and other
features that are by no means disposed of?
Of course, these questions are not likely to be
largely discussed during the present national cam
paign and yet the Wall Street Journal is eminent
ly correct when it testifies to the deep and abiding
concern which a very large number of the Ameri
can people display concerning ,"thc monetary prob
lem.'' It is also a solemn fact that however much
campaign managers may attempt to ignore this
' problem, sooner or later, the American people will
be brought face to face with the necessity for an
intelligent solution.
JJJ
A Nation's True Glory
At this time, when the republicans seem dis
posed to measure a nation's greatness by the size
of its army and its navy, and its future by its
wealth,. it will not be out of place to recall the
words of Bishop Whipple, which present a higher
national ideal. The words are worth remembering.
Bishop Whipple says:
"The true glory of a nation is an Intelligent,
honest, industrious Christian people. Tho civiliza
tion of a people depends on their individual char
acters; and the constitution which is not tne out
growth of this character is not worth the parch
ment on which it is written. You look in vain
in the past for a single instance where the people
have preserved their liberties after their individual
character was lost. It is not in the magnificence
of its palaces, not in the beautiful creations of art
lavished on its public edifices, not in costly libra
ries and galleries of pictures, not in the number
or wealth of its cities, that we find a nation's
glory. The ruler may gather around him the
treasures of the wonjd, amid a brutalized people;
the senate chamber may retain its faultless pro
portions long after the voice of patriotism is
hushed within its walls; the monumental marble
may commemorate a glory which has forever de
parted. Art and letters may bring no lessons to
a people whose heart is dead. The true glory
of a nation is the living temple .of a loyal, indus
trious upright people. The busy click of machin
ery ,the merry ring of the anvil, the lowing of the
peaceful herds, and the song of the harvesthome,
are sweeter music than the paeans of departed
glory, or the songs- of triumph in war. The vine- t
clad cottage of the hillside, the cabin of the woods
man and the rural home of the farmer are the true
citadels of any country. There is a dignity in
honest toil which belongs not to the display of
wealth or the luxury of fashion. The man who
drives the plow, or swings his axe in the forest,
or with cunning fingers plies the tools of his craft,
is as truly the servant of his country a the states
man in the senate, or the soldier in battle. The
safety of a nation depends not alone on the wis-
3
dom of the statesman, or the bravery of Its gen
erals. The tongue Of tho statesman never saved a
nation tottering to its fall; the sword of a warrior
never stayed its destruction. Would you see the
image of true national glory, I would show you
villages where the crqwn and glory of the people
nro in common schools, where tho voice of prayer
goos heavenward, where the people have that most
priceless gilt, faith in God."
Fusion in Nebraska
The democrats and populists of Nebraska have
put up soparatc electoral tickets, but havjj fused on
a state ticket.
The gentlemen nominated for slnte offices by
the two conventions stand well among their neigh
bors and may be depended upon to give tho peo
ple of this state faithful service in the event of
their election.
Gcorgo W. Berge, the fusion nominee "for gov
ernor, is one or the best known residents of Lin
coln. Mr. Berge ls,n successful lawyer, and, while
affiliating with the populist party, is a thorough
going democrat in the best sense of the term.
Mr.- Berge was the fusion candidate for con
gress In 1900 in the First Nebraska district and
made a creditable race. Democrats who know him
well and who have worked shoulder to shoulder
with him upon the lines of reform have the same
affectionate regard for him that populists have.
Mr. Berge is an able, sincere and upright man.
Should ho be elected to the office of governor,
Nebraska will have a chief executive who will dis
charge his duties faithfully.
JJJ
The international geographical congress meets
in Philadelphia next month. We hope It will
'succeed in making two Manchurlun maps look
alike.
The Sioux City Journal declares that the
packing house strike was on the "open shop" issue.
The esteemed Journal understands the Industrial
situation fully as well as it does the political sit
uation, and as the Journal is a republican, organ
its ignorance of both is evident.
fff
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