Page:Back to the Republic.djvu/102

 ; that the judge and jury and other court officials are selected through politics; that our postoffices are built or leased through politics; that the postmasters, mail carriers and other postal officials are selected through politics; that the amount of taxes that you pay and the method of their expenditure are determined through politics; that the question of peace or war is determined through politics? So the enumeration might be continued indefinitely.

Whether we will or no, we are bound up in the very warp and woof of politics. We cannot escape it and we cannot take these things out of politics. These services touch our comforts, our necessities, our luxuries, and the very protection of our lives. It behooves all citizens, therefore, to be awakened to a keen realization of their obligation and be vigilant in the selection of officials who in a representative capacity assume the responsibility of conducting public affairs. It is also important that these officials work through the best possible organization. The republic, which is based upon four elements, provides the best possible medium for such an organization.

I do not know that there is magic in the figure four, but it has played a great part in civilization. After the earth was created, four kingdoms were provided: the human, animal, vegetable and