The Nationalist Party

Edward Everett Hale has defined the platform of the new politieal party which was recently born in New England. He says in the beginning that the name "Nationalist" badly expresses the scope of the party, and should not have been adopted. "Friends of Government" would have been a better name, he thinks. He says that the Nationalists do not believe that the least government is the best. They do not think that government should be let out to contractors or independent commissions. They would have every city and town go into the waterworks and gas lighting business on its own account. He says cities can attend to these matters more cheaply than to hire nrivate coroorations to do it. Mr. Hale cites the early days of New Englaud, when the "town" or township taught all the children and built all the roads and bridges. They also vaccinated all the people for smallpox. Where trading and other interests are in the hands of private cornpanies, these sometimes become so powerful aa to defy even the governrnent itself. As a case in point, "governraent" ought never to have let our telegraph service go into the hands of a private Corporation. In brief, in the judgment of the Nationalists, government itself should undertake to conduct all tho enterprises that concern the whole people. Thus they believo the whole people will be delivered from the tyranny and the dishonesty from which they suffer at the hands of private corporations. But are government officials theinselves always wise, honest and capable? The Hayes administration was the first one to inaugúrate the temperanco rule at the White House, and that was owing to the strict teetotal principies of Mrs. Hayes. It was not believed that the rule could be enforced, but the quiet, gracious firuiness of Mrs. Hayes carried it through. Even those who laughed at her respected her firmness. Not till after her death was it generally known that she was one of the founders of the Soldiers and Sailors' Orphans' home in Ohio, or that sho took such active part in many good works. The soldiers in her husband's command during the war regarded her with little short of veneration, and she was made an honorary member of the Society of the Army of West Virginia. As hostess at the White House few have been more successful or more sincerely liked than she was. Her commanding height, dark hair and eyes and fresh complexion gave her a hand60me, striking presence, while her gentle, cordial manners won air hearts. There is a decided tendenoy towards better Sunday observance in public quarters. Following the example of varioua railroad corupaniea and of Postinaster General Wanamaker, the army authorities have issued a Sunday order. It ia 6aid the president himself is back of general order No. 50. It is that hereaf ter the weekly inspection of arms, equipments, clothing, and barracka and barrack kitchens, shall be made on Satu. day, instead of Sunday, as heretofore.