In ancient Israel a certain proportion of the year’s produce was given to the Temple.  In like manner, if popular government means anything to you, you have got to give up a certain portion of your time and money to being a part of this popular government.

Just this is the most important matter in our whole National life.  Recently there died the greatest master of practical politics America has produced.  Firmly he had kept his steel hand upon his state for thirty years.  A dozen times were mighty efforts made to break his over-lordship.  Each time his resourcefulness, audacity, and genius confounded his enemies.  But finally that undefeated conqueror, Death, took this old veteran captive.

He left an able successor in his seat of power, but a man without that prestige of invulnerability which a lifetime of political combat and victory had given the deceased leader.  “Here,” said every one, “is an opportunity to overthrow the machine.”  Within a few months an election occurred—­not a National election, but one in which the “machine” might have been crippled.

But, mirabile dictu, the “good people,” the “reformers,” the “society” and “business” classes, did not come out to vote.  They not only formed no plans to set up a new order of things, they did not even go to the polls.  Yet these were the descendants of the men who founded the Nation and who set free institutions in practical operation.

This shows how American institutions, like everything else, have in themselves the seeds of death if they are not properly exercised.  When the great body of our citizens become afflicted with civic paralysis, it is the easiest thing in the world for the strong and resourceful “boss,” by careful selection of his precinct committeemen and other local workers all over his state, to seize power—­legislative, executive, and even judicial.  It has been done more than once in certain places in this country.

Where it is successful, the Republic no longer endures.  The people no longer rule; an oligarchy rules in the name of the people.  And where this is true, the people deserve their fate.  And so, young man, if you do not expect this fate to overtake the entire country, you have got to get right into “the mix of things.”

You, I say, not some other man, but you, you, you. You—­you yourself—­YOU are the one who is responsible.  Quit your aloofness.  Get out of any clubs and desert all associations which sneer at active work in ward and precinct.  Do not get political locomotor ataxia.

It was a fine thing that was said by a political leader to a singularly brilliant young man from college who, with letters of unlimited indorsement from the presidents of our three greatest universities, asked for a humble place in the diplomatic service.  He wanted to make that service his career.

“I like your style,” said the man whose favor the young fellow was soliciting.  “Your ability is excellent, your recommendations perfect, your character above reproach, your family a guarantee of your moral and mental worth.  But you have done nothing yet among real men.