THE NEBRASKA INDEPENDENT.
PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT
Mr. riain Charges "Loot Construction,'
With HarlotryStrict Construction
Moans Liberty
Editor Indepeudeat: Some time
ago you asked what the subscribers
bad to say about organized capital
and organized labor; also, spoke
about an organized people. Under the
above caption, we will try and open
up a line of thought which may give
some light on the cause of so much
erroneous doctrine about the rights
: of capital vs. labor. We may; be a
little tedious, but we will have only
one thought in view; that will be, the
purpose of governments. Govern
ernments that are for the
- (rnrtri ,nf oil ' mncf oa far ns twmiuHiIa
dispense " justice to all, privilege to
none. What should be the great end
of government, is not to foster spe
cial privileges, but to foster the prin
ciple that "all men are created equal."
Any other interpretation of a consti
tutional government is not compatible
with the doctrine, 'that governments
derive their Just powers from the
consent of the governed."
The great aim anti purpose of gov
ernments Is not only to keep the rich
from oppressing the poor, but, as far
as possible, remove want and the fear
of want. Its greatest powers should
not be to foster what some may call
class legislation, but to keep the chan
nels of commerce open so that the
proceeds of labor will flow through.
If the sordiness of the human, race
.was removed, there would be no such
a thing as the shunting of the pro
ceeds of labor into the hands of the
ultra-opulent; wealth would not be
always in the throes of corruption,
nor would it accrue in the hands of
the few, unless the few gave due com
pensation for such privileges but on
the other hand would be a blessing to
all mankind; would in the way of
comforts for all make us a happy and
a contented people; for the1 ultra-distinction
of wealth Is the amount of
happiness it dispepses,., when , it . Is
equitably distributed. '.The general
happiness of the community depends
on the distribution of wealth. Wealth
that flows through the channels of
commerce, without any restrictions,
and gives to the toiling millions in
just the same proportion as they help
to swell the channels of commerce
with the products of labor,, will be
stow on the masses as much happi
ness as human institutions are capa
ble of bestowing, Human institutions
cannot be perfect; tut the philosophy
01 justice, ana equity snouid be so
prominent in the doctrines of govern
ment . that the ; sincerity of liberty
loving citizens could' easily be meas
ured by principles which are within
themselves Immutable, indestructible
and self-evident.
The first, duty of government is to
guarantee safety; without, safety there
is no peac; without peace there could
be 'neither happiness nor liberty. The
only peace is that which makes hap
piness the paramount and fundamen
tal principle of progress; a happiness
that is stultified by Injustice, or which,
in other words, warps the aim of gov
ernment, Is not compatible with the
theory of liberty. No : people can
equitably adjust the workings of gov
ernment, where the natural channels
of commerce and social equity are
clogged with illicit legislation; for the
most exalted purpose of government
Is to keep Intact those principles and
theories that are the bulwark, over
which the distribution of wealth can
flow, so that the equitable proceeds
naturally falls into those channels
which allow the producers of wealth
to gather, each and all alike, a just
portion of wealth, as the fruits of his
toil.'
We have two forms of constitutional
government: one which by a loose
construction centralizes the power in
to, the hands of the few; In other
DEAFNESS CANNOT BE CURED
by local applications as they cannot
reach the diseased portion of the ear.
There is only one way to cure deaf
ness, and that is by constitutional
remedies. Deafness is caused by an
Inflamed condition of the mucous lin
ing of the Eustachian Tube. When
this tube is inflamed you have a rum
bling sound or Imperfect hearing, and
when it is entirely closed, Deafness is
the result, and unless the inflammation
can be taken out and this tube restored
to its normal condition, hearing will
be destroyed forever; nine cases out
of ten are caused by Catarrh, which
is nothing but an inflamed condition
of the mucous surfaces. j
We will give One Hundred Dollars
tor any .case of Deafness (caused by
catarrh) that cannot : be cured by
Hall's Catarrh Cure. Send for cir
culars, free. F. J. CHENEY & Co.,
Toledo, 0.
; Sold by Druggists, 73c. .
Hall's Family Pills are the best.
words, the principle of loose construe
tion is In harmony with, the "doctrine
of thrones," and is more or less in
accord with plutocracy, or is more or
less the legitimate offspring of the
aristocratic idea that kings have "di
vine rights." ,
Loose construction Is the entering
wedge of paternalism in governments.
We might say paternalism, special
privileges, or, in other words, discrim
ination is the harlot of loose con
struction. When government ceases
to travel on the high plane of equity
and justice, and becomes the prosti
tute of weaith, itceases to be the im
plement of .justice and becomes -the
instrument of extortion and legisla
tive blackmail. , ' '
Governments that place on their
ntntntM laws that discriminate against
the many in favor ot the few are not
in the true sense liberal governments
and are, therefore, to be placed In that
category, -where the rights of the
many are subservient to the wy of
the few. "' ; --i " .' " ' . '
Governments so constructed that the
will of a self-constituted authority,
which is dominated by a lust for gain,
can change the policy at the whim of
every interest that fattens Itself hy
such' a change,, are as much aristo
cratic governments as though formed
and enforced by those who believe in
the powers of a king.
The trye test of a government is its
power to keep open the natural ave
nues of social and political progress..
No people trammeled with "legisla
tive larceny" can reach the plane ot
civilization, which gives to each and
every citizen an independence that is"
broad enough for the. citizen to pro
tect all of his rights; yet not so
broad but' every other citizen can en
joy the same liberty. The virtue ot
government depends on its strict in
terpretation of the rights of its con
stituency. ; A strict interpretation or
constitutional government recognizes
that every citizen has rights that are
inalienable.
No government under which Its
citizens can discharge their whole duty
can do any more than to bestow on
each citizen Tights that- the citizen
naturally gathers to himself. A gov
ernment that is unbiased will defend
those rights that are the chief corner
stone of freedom. ,3 -
Governments are really what . the
people make them; governments will
be just in proportion as the people
feel and enforce justice. The work-
lings of , government must show the
spirit of- free institutions, H tne peo
ple enjoy the fruit3 of freedom, jlid
erty may be partially felt and perhaps
may be by the few enjoyed, but a lib
erty that throbs wilh justice and de
fends the field of opportunity, as the
heritage of all men, cannot fail to be
stow on the whole people the fruits
of the most exalted civilization, ' and
give each a just compensation, as the
natural result of an- equitable distri
bution of wealth.
While we Lave written quite exten
sively on the abova heading, we have
tried to make plain the purpose ot
governments; tried to impress the
reader that it lies .'n the power of the
people to say whether a small part of
the citizens of this great common
wealth shall enjoy, as their special
patrimony, the greal resources of this
country.
We wish to impress the great Am
erican people that they are the one3
to blame; if the few wax rich, they,
the people, are to blame. Govern
ments are just as good as the people
make them. All lhat is the matter
with the people is they wTant the in
stitutions of freedom, but don't want
to bear the burdens that freedom
costs.
We think that civic virtue would
redeem much of the oppression under
which the people groan. Many are
crying that there is no chance for th3
people, when the men who are sent
to represent them are so susceptible
to the dollar. It is too true that po
litical virtue is a thing of the -past.
But the time is coming when the
people will come into their own.
To recapitulate: we will say that
loose construction put on constitu
tional government is but the pluto
cratic theory applied to government;
it 13 the power behind the throne,
which says that all effort to equally
distribute the wealth of the nation,
originates in the heart of the low
bred; hence, the only safety i3 for the
superior few to make the science of
wealth the groundwork of govern
ment In fact, the only political economy
with the plutocrat is that which turns
the whole wealth as a special privilege
into the hands of the few. A citizen
must discriminate between a doctrine
which distributes the wealth of tin
whole people, so that each citizen get3
as. his share of the proceeds of labor,
that portion that is justly due him,
and a doctrine which robs the manv
for the few. PERRY D. PLAIN.
At water,. 111. ., j
pring and Summer
Merchandise
i -
We are showing a larger and better stock this season
than we have ever had before. Our new lines, in the various
departments have been selected; with more care and we are
satisfied that our display of this season's goods will not be
surpassed by any house in Nebraska.
We are particularly strong in Ladies' and Childran's .
Jackets, Suits, Skirts and Waists
- . (
Our showing of Silk and Wool Dress Goods is equal to
any shown in the larger eastern cities. We have all the' most
desirable weaves and patterns in WhittC Gbo&s' and Wash
Goods Our Spring and Summer Underwear department con
tains all weights and styles that the trade would call for.
Stocks are complete in our Hosiery, Ladies' Furnishings.
Gent's Furnishings, Gloves and Corsets, Carpets and Drap-
eries, Books and Stationery,. Shoes, China and Glassware,
House Furnishing and Domestic departments. ;
We Have the Most Attractive Line of Millinery in the
City. Pattern Hats, Trimmed Hats and Street
. Hats. . v," V
Our prices all always the lowest and our goods are al-.
ways reliable, r "". .
Send for Samples. Mention This Paper.
Lincoln , Nebraska.
the mum mm country
Probably the richest farming country open for settlement to-day on the
American continent, is the fine hardwood belt extending- along the Minne
apolis, St Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway ("Soo" Line) in northern
Wisconsin and Michigan. Acknowledged by good authorities on dairying
to be the best dairy region in America. A land of Clover and Blue Grass
well supplied with streams, lakes, and springs of pure water
W. D. HOARD, Editor of Hoard's Dairyman, says: '
J"JL Tf th north"n Wisconsin is goingf to prove the most successful dairy region
r the northwest, something like that of St. Lawrence and Lewis counties in New York.
"The pecuhar salubrity of the air, the moderate heat of summer, the abundant and
ideal dairrefkL" lHxurlat S1 ot grasses, aU conspire to make it an
CHOICE LANDS AT LOW PRICES.
If you want a home in the "Great Cloyer Belt" write for free illustrated
folder to D. W. CASSEDAY, Land Agent "Soo" line, Minneapolis, Minn.
" - - -
OPPORTUNITY TO SELL LAND.
t . -
Thousands of home-seekers will visit Nebraska this . summer and fall to buy farms
ranches and other property-Now I an opportune time to sell-Prices will not
always be so high. w.ui
We propose to help stimulate the tide of migration toward Nebraska this year
Within a few weeks we will publish a catalogue giving full description of all property
isted with us for sale; this will be the most extensive list of choice propertie ever
offered by any dealers in Nebraska. W. purpose to judiciously circulate a very larg
edition of this catalogue throughout all the eastern states where there is any chance to
'nte rest home-seekers.
If you have a farm, ranch, store, stock of goods, mill, residence property, etc to sell
or trade it will be to your advantage to write at once for blanks and list such property
with us so that it will be advertised in the above described catalogue.
WEBER &FARRIS
1338 0 Street. . . Lincoln, Nebraska.
TRESTER
CATALOGUE FREE.
SUPPLY COMPANY,
SUPPLIES.
103 So. 11th St., Lincoln, Neb.
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Ours have stood the test of 50 years.
Send for Catalogue
600 Acres. 13 Greenhouses. Established 1852.
' PHOENIX KTR8EKV COMPAXi",
" I860 Park St., Bloomlngton, IUIboI
a