Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-12-11
MODERN MORALITY


Our bight0Lod morality and civil
.s'ssariii ---s,e!r'a Sss:as- spread ~. l.ta.,
rately over the American Continent
as the rays OF the sun in dog days,
looks as though our luminary had some
black spots on it too. Stubborn facts
and every day lile seem to be against
our American code of morals
We have negro bureau frauds, bank
suspensions, insurance grabs, and the
violation of 80 many idueiary trusts,
in these days Of progress u which
insD. out to be spch Ros0siGas frauds
that the thoughtful reader OF current
events is compelled TO stop and reflect
whether he has not studied tho wrong
catechism, and adopted false view OF
the bearings OF the old moral code for
guidance. The air seems to be impreg-
mated with moral wrong, while our ed.
ucation is becoming more expensive
every year, and the golden rule" is
being used as carelessly as the billiard
player does hls balls--ior the purpose OF
pocLeting them.
We have been lead TO make these
remarks by reading some of the pro
cecdings in the trial of one Morton, OF
Philadelphia, who, during the Centen.
nial year, was President of the Market
street Passenger Railway, in that city,
which road "toated" its thousands to
the Centennial grounds during the
summer of 1876. A passenger over
that line could hardly open his eyes
without seeing the name of JOHN S
MORTON emblazoned in gilt or some
other color in some portion OF the
streetcag and one would naturally
suppose from what they saw, that he
was u genuine philanthroplst, and of
course a humane,godly man. But recent
events seem toprove him and his asso-
ciates to belong to very different
class of men. ltseems that they have
robbed those that con6ded in them OF
hundreds of thousands Of dollars, and
have violated every sacred trust known
to civilized men, aud is now on trial
for his crimes.
That he is one Of the true represent
atives Of Philadelphia Phariseeism, OF
the old school, and snob of the mod
ern, there can be no doubt, and is con
elusive from the peculiar testimony be
gave in u Philadelphia court the other
day in the trial of his fellow conspira-
tors in the embezzlement of the funds
of the West Philadelphia Passenger
Railway Company. In accounting Tor
money raised on fraudulently issued
stock, Morton stated that be had used
$4,000 at Harrisburg trying to defeat
bill introduced in the interest of a ri
val street railway corporation. The
following question and answer show
how this wholesale bribery was en-
dorsed by the highly respectable Phil
adelphians whoiormed the Board OF Dl
rectors Of Morton's company;
Odd the Board Of Directors ever sec a state.
mint from you as to the manner in which the
money was spent 10 Harrisburg
A-hs, sir. They gave me iul authority in
the matter and knes how much spent. | did
not give them detailed stateinsnt Uf how il was
spent, Ont taoc ! ieeeirsd rofs Of ihank. Goni
he Hoard
We doubt it, in the palmest days OF
tho Tweed Ring, remarks the New
York Sun, un instance could be found
Of the Beard Of Directors OF a New
York corporation thanking a lobbyist
for bis success in corrupting u Legisla-
ture. 1t is no wonder that the rotten
ness which must exist beneath the sur
face of society where such thing
could occur occasionally breaks out in
a murder like that of Armstrong, and
an exposure like that of Morton.