THE PELORUS GUARDIAN, AND MINERS' ADVOCATE FRIDAY, 13TH MAY, 1904. Corruption in Politics.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 15, Issue 38, 13 May 1904, Page 4

THE PELORUS GUARDIAN, AND MINERS' ADVOCATE FRIDAY, 13TH MAY, 1904. Corruption in Politics.

Speaking of party government in America, Mr John A. Hobsen, M.A., said a curious feature that struck him as a visitor to that country was the deep and general distrust of officials, legislators, and all sorts of elected persons. That was to say, in this democratic republic, where the average man controlled, there was no evidence that the man, if elected, would perform tbeir will, and would govern, make laws and administrate them in the impartial interest of the people. Party bias was so powerful in all the departments of public life that there was not that confidence that one would imagine. But still more striking was the changed attitude of the average man towards tbe laws he had assisted in passing and endorsing. In America there was the slightest regard for law simply on the ground that it was tie law. If it pressed inconveniently upon any class or man it was quite commonly disregarded. It soon came home to the student of American polities that the people did not govern, but only seemed to govern. As this was the year of the Piesi- | dential election W America, the lecturer proceeded to describe minutely the electoral machine and its corruptness. It looked as if the democracy ; of America were speedily developing into what had been well described as government of the people by the boss and for the millionaire. One of the most remarkable prophecies in the world of politics was that of Abraham Xrincoln, who, 40 ago, dreaded

and foresaw the day when the wealth of the country would be in the hands of a few, and the Republic be thereby destroyed. To-day behind the "boss" stood another man, the millionaire; and the interest that stood behind the party machine was that of making a profitable use of politics. A study of American politics showed that America was drifting away from democracy. There was a growth of aristocracy entrenched behind protection, militarism, and imperialism. If this tendency proceeded unchecked in the political life of America, it meant the downfall of democracy, for there could be no way of joining these two irreconcilable things in American life —democracy and empire; and should America fail to restrain herself for the performance of her proper task, they would witness the breakdown of this political experiment, the greatest political tragedy of history. But there was great power for good in A.merica which would manifest itself in a swell of character and practical intelligence, seeking some new course because the old had failed. That intelligence would re-act upon the political institutions of the country. The belief in the future was based on confidence in the average man—the sense, intelligence, courage, and character of the average man. These were the iugredients and the safeguards of democracy.