THE UNITED AMERICAN
Page Eighteen
BECOMING A CITIZEN
NOVEMBER 1925
our government is best. Personally, I am inclined to
believe that they are right. If wise, good, loyal men
(Continued from Page Eight)
men. The working men and the poorer farmers had and women could be persuaded to stand for the offices
little influence and power. In most Countries they and if citizens would support no one who is not of such
could not vote and even where they could, their use of character, the representative democracy form of
the franchise was much limited. The colonists of government would undoubtedly give us better, fairer
America, having won by force of arms their independ government than any other form.
A seventh fundamental idea is the separation of
ence, were determined that such a condition should
never come to hold in this country. Hence there had the powers of government into separate, clearly de
grown up a strong belief that the executive power of fined departments. I have written before of the fear
government should be much restricted and that the that these revolutionary patriots had of vesting too
people should be expected and prepared to practice a much power in the hands of the rulers. Hence the
large measure of self-government. Another condition three functions of government were placed in the hands
contributing to the common belief in the right of the of different officers and a series of checks upon the
individual to a large measure of self-government, was power of every officer established.
Based upon such fundamental principles, our
the isolation of the colonies and their people. Con
sequently the various settlements had always governed government was built and for nearly one hundred and
themselves and their people felt no need for a strong . forty years has endured and has grown in prestige and
central ruling power. Because of these two beliefs,— power. Surely we have passed the experimental stage
(1) the dread of a strong central government and and can sincerely say to our European friends that
(2) the intense self-reliance of the people, there arose these fundamental ideas are safe and sound stones
in the Constitutional Convention a bitter contest be upon which to build an enduring and efficient govern
tween the individualists, led by Jefferson, and the be ment.
lievers in a strong executive power, led by Hamilton.
GOOD CHEER
This dispute finally resulted in a compromise by means
Philadelphia Ledger
of which the power of the president and the duration
EOPLE SOON tire of being uplifted, as they grow weary
of his service were very definitely limited and with
of standing on tip-toe. When a man is left contemplating
these limitations on the power of the president the
drab routine of life once more after a vision on the mountain
government was organized. Since that time, however, the
top he must make the inspiration he receives in one crowded,
as the country has settled up and communities have glorious hour serve him for many working days. He cannot soon
come to rely more and more on each other, the expect the electrification and the excitement to return.
But the plain and homely virtue of good cheer will com
power of the executive has greatly increased, until
every day if we permit, and if it does not lift us to
today we find generally a strong belief that if we are to panion
dizzy and exhilarating heights, neither does it let us sag way
have an efficient government, it must be by giving down to the very nadir of depression after we have soared
to the president a very great measure of power. Hence to the zenith of delight.
Good cheer is a simple thing. It is not a costly program
President Coolidge today exercises vastly greater
power than did Washington. As a manifestation of of entertainment and it runs up no big bills in a playhouse
ballroom. It is a game which any one can play, needing
the tendency to increase executive power, we find in or a expensive
outfit. It can take place within the confines of
many cities the establishment of commission and city a sickroom; it can even go on in one’s own mind. The best I
manager governments, types of rule which are much thing about the game is the benefit to the spectators. Sol
more like those favored by Hamilton than those many sports are good for the players and none besides. But I
one helps and lifts all within a striking radius of the genial I
favored by Jefferson. Despite this tendency, I believe this
disposition.
we may still safely say that the right of every in
Fortunately, good cheer is incurable. Its germs find lodg
dividual citizen to a large degree of self-choice and self- ment and are scattered like motes of the sunbeam’s morning I
government is an important American fundamental gold. Laughter is a bid for laughter.; delight is even morel
contagious than sorrow.
idea.
the world rewards its funmakers! To borrow the I
A sixth fundamental idea is that of representative old How
name of the singers who brought good cheer, they might I
democracy. In such a government there is rule by be called the gleemen. Mankind has need of all the mirth I
representatives chosen by the people because of a Mark Twain or a Stephen Leacock, a Chaplin or a Harold
superior ability and experience. This is the type of Lloyd can bestow. Artemus Ward helped Abraham Lincoln I
government the makers of our Constitution meant to hold the union together, though the two men never met.
us to have. We find, tho, of recent years, that there
WONDER
has grown up a strong tendency to place more of the
By LUCIA TRENT, in The New York Sun
governing power in the hands of the people. This has
Lonely and wistful some things always seem,
manifested itself in the enactment of laws providing
Part of another world, part of a dream,
for the initiative, the referendum and the recall.
Sunset mountains that shadow the west,
Oregon was the pioneer state in this movement, a move
Rough night winds that will find no rest,
ment which has spread pretty generally over the
Shivering trees on a sweep of snow,
Menacing coasts that the sea birds know.
country and which has led to a considerable use of
A tremulous star in a void of sky,
these devices. There are indications however, today,
Are they lonely, I’m wondering, or am I?
of dissatisfaction with them because they have not
always worked satisfactorily, and out of this dissatis
Mexico is said to be compiling a list of claims against the
faction a growing movement of many thinking people United
States that will exceed the amount of the American
to restrict greatly their use. These people argue that claims against Mexico. Wonder why Europe has not tried
the representative democracy idea of the builders of that plan of repayment?
—Houston Post Dispatch.
P