Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-08
A Need for More Moral Courage.

a Need for More Moral Courage.
ComparativeIyfew men have the moral
courage 10 do.upaer all oircum stances,
/ what they knowsto De fight They shirk
responsibilities even when they know
that there is danger that their conduct
Will result in injury 10 others.
4 few DAYS ago the President received
letter from a gentleman in Cincinnati
stating that the sppointmeo OF Of certain
man in that city 10 an important
/ Federal office, TO which consider
/ able honor and greGt responsibilities
are attached, mad caused much I'M
/ favorable comment, because the uuttness
# the appointee for the position WAS
generally recognized. The writer OF the
letter further stated that he had signed
the appointee's petition, and that many
other prominent citizens Of ONO had also
signed il, but that not one OF them would
say privately that the appointee was fit
to ill any responsible place, and that not
one Of them, under any circumstances,
would appoint him 30 a position of trust.
In defense of his conduct the writer said
that he did not believe that the man
would succeed in getting what he wanted,
and that he did not like to refuse to sign
mis- petition.
OF course the President was angry at
the way his confidence in men of good
character and prominence in Ohio had
been betrayed lie wrote a sharp letter
in answer, and took occasion to say that
he had already discovered that little, or
n oil in MO TO h., nj ~ bQ
commentators Of even those who stood
the highest in their respective communi-
ties.
The President has been quite severely
condemned for some of his appointments,
but how is he to know that this or that
man, recommended by the very best citi-
zens and urged for an Office by Senators
and Representatives. is not a proper per-
son to represent the government In any
capacity? He cannotp personally examine
INTO the qualifications and moral charac-
ter OF each applicant for Office. He is
bound TO depend upon somebody for help
in such matters. Is it surprising that he
becomes Disguised when he finds, time
and time again, that he has been deceived?
If the real sentiments of those who
sign petitions of applicants for Office
could be got at, in very many cases they
would be found to be anything but com
plimentary to the petitioners. They sign
petitions, write letters Of recommends
tion, and even personally solicit Office
for those every way unworthy of rec0g-
milton Of any kind, simply because they
don't want TO give Ofense or make enc
mics.
But this practice of Sinking RESPONSE
billty is not confined to men who are
asked to help an otiice-seeker to get an
office. How many business men are there
who are morally strong enough to refuse
to give a certificate Of character to man
whose habits they know are such as to
make him u dangerous person to place in
a position Of trustY How many are there
OF those who have been the victims OF
misplaced confidence who will warn
others against employing those who have
deceived them? Indeed, it is possible,
doubtless, to lind instances where a mer-
chant who has been robbed by a clerk has,
on his loss being made good, given the
clerk a certificate of good character,
or, at least, has failed to tell the whole
truth when questioned respecting the
clerks record.
How can the President fill the offices
with honorable and competent men, and
how can merchants protect themselves
against dishonest employees. if the lead
ing men of a community refuse to tell the
truth when they know 1t about those seek
ing responsible positions, and who do not
hesitate to lend their names to state
ment which they know to be untrue !?
Those who most readily evade their
responsibilities as citizens are generally
loudest in their complaints against the
shortcomings Of their fellowmen,