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Show Governor Folk, of Missouri, has won for himself him-self glowing encomiums for the lofty sentiments to which he gave utterance in an after-dinner speech, recently, in Xew York. The salient points of this address consisted in the speaker's concepts of the essential requisites of good citizenship. "Citizenship, "Citizen-ship, in a free country implies a civic obligation to enforce the performance of every public trust, and holding every public official to strict accountability before enlightened public opinion for all official acts," was one of the speaker's declarations that will meet with universal sanction. - . . Bribery, Governor. Folk characterized - as -the "treason of peace," and with like admirable aptitude apti-tude he declared that the patriotism of the ballot was even more necessary in a free country than the patriotism of the bullet. Continuing, the speaker said: "There is a constant con-stant conflict between evil and good; and evil must always be fought against, else the good will be overcome. The useful grain the fanner sows does not grow and ripen by chance, but must be cared for and protected; while the thistle, scattered by chance and cared for by accident, will flourish any- ' where. So good government does not exist by acci dent. The seeds must be sown and the plant nur-. tured and defended, else the weeds will grow up and choke it." Governor Folk reminded his hearers that the public life of a nation is a reflection of the private lives of its citizens, and appealed to them to recognize recog-nize the responsibilities that rest upon them as honored hon-ored citizens of the republic. His words were replete re-plete with practical wisdom, and it were well for , the nation if they awaken a' responsive chord in the hearts of all. ' Governor Folk is a stalwart political leader of ; the higher type to whom patriotic citizens will wish : an increase of power. ' ' .' . . . i |
