The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-27
AN ABANDONED PRETENsE.

We are amazed that our much es-
teemed contemporary, tine Providence
Sunday Journal, should give the prestige
Of its columns TO the support Of the
abandoned pretense that private morals
should have no influence in public life.
We think it is usually claimed in be-
half Of men in public positions, or of any
prominence in the public eye, on occa-
sions when disclosures rejecting on the
private life aud character are made that
personal immortality should not affect
our appreciation of public services and
consequent support of such men in the
high stations which they may have
adorned. But we recall few instances,
in our country at least. when sIch ar
guments have prevailed against the i'm
stinctive moral sense of any peoples who
may have the suffrage in the particular
instance, but, on the contrary, we have
seen splendid public records smirched
beyond clearing by the effect OF private
indiscretions, and public officials Of
high attainment overthrown because of
the carelessness or viciousness of their
private life, though as often as not the
punishment has been administered with
pity, if with uncommon severity.
Upin Woonsocket the members of the
Christian Alliance have assailed, with
view to opposing his election to public
pfE ha oh aotn nf
man whose capacity for the Office he
holds and seeks. by reelection, is unques-
toned, we believe. We do not know
the merits of this unfortunate contro-
versy and we refer to it only because
of the amazing position which the Sun
day Journal, through its representative
in Woonsocket, has taken in the matter,
We do not believe the editor of The
Journal, down in his heart, would stand
up for any such abandoned pretense
that "it is by his public acts he Ghould
be judged when named for Office in the
public gift" that the action of the
Christian Alliance is "despicable to say
the least" and that such inquiry into
personal character and pobity is "a
new and dangerous feature in our public
life." But the fact that the newspaper
permits such editorial expressions
to be thrown about by every
reporter or representative who is
authorized to write for its columns gives
to these views an endorsement that, we
fear, can but reflect unfortunately on the
publication, and prestige far beyond
the mere words of the writer
AS matter of fact it is a wholesome
thing that private character is q
factor IN public life and that
neither politics nor partisanship is
unaffected by it. In this great
country we are not all Of one religious
faith, and many Of Us acknowledge no
religion. But at the basis Of our insti
tutions and our actions is strong moral
sentiment that is all-powerful and
against which neither politics nor parti-
sanship can prevail for long. Public
life cannot be divorced from private life.> :
In the end private character is the true
test Of fitness for public Office, and no
talents, no ability, can command public
recognition unsupported by morality in
private life. This not new, as it is not
a dangerous, feature. 1t is as old as the
hills, although specious argument and
baneful sophistry have, on many occa-
people with the contrary view. But we
are amazed that, at this day, the col
umns of the Sunday Journal should be
lent to the support of such pretense.