68 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



government, will become an accomplished fact from the very necessity 

 of things. A century ago there was no need for it, because the number 

 of offices was so small and the interests involved practically so limited. 

 A century hence the number of offices will be so great and the interests 

 so vast, that it will be an impossibility to administer them upon any 

 other basis. Public opinion on fundamental political questions changes 

 slowly; but already we see evidences that there is a growing resentment 

 to the use of public office to pay political debts. The business instinct 

 of the people is slowly but surely asserting itself to the same end. 

 There is a growing appreciation of the fact that an electrical bureau 

 or an engineering bureau or a survey bureau cannot be successfully and 

 efficiently conducted on a spoils basis. 



No one doubts or denies that municipal reform is to-day a great 

 and pressing problem, constantly attracting more and more attention 

 and bidding fair, in the course of advancing years, to become a domi- 

 nating one. When we have accomplished what we are now striving 

 for — civil service reform, the elimination of State and national politics 

 from the consideration of municipal affairs, the conduct of the latter 

 upon enlightened principles, the extension of educational facilities, 

 municipal reform will choose other objects for its end; otherwise, 

 America would not be true to its Anglo-Saxon heritage. One reform 

 achieved, then the Anglo-Saxon presses forward to another. He would 

 not be true to his instinct if he did not. We may not, and I for one 

 believe we shall not, be discussing civil service reform, ballot reform, 

 municipal ownership, a century hence; nor will a National Municipal 

 League perhaps be needed to preach the doctrine of an aroused civic 

 consciousness. These will be accomplished facts, if we may judge of 

 the future by the past and present — but none of these things will come 

 to pass unless every one who now feels the obligations of his political 

 duties is true to the best that is within him. The secret of the greatness 

 of America and England in the civilization of the world is that there 

 has always been a sufficient number of men to respond when a Nelson 

 eaid, 'England expects every man to do his duty.' Whenever that day 

 passes, then the greatness of the Anglo-Saxon race shall have departed. 



