The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-01-15

OFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
The old straw that was threshed over
last summer in regard to Land Commits
sioner Ruth holding back school moneys
for personal ends il now being put
through the mill again to add 10 the
sensational features OF the state treasury
defalcation. Also the old charge against
Judge Kellam in connection with the
Chamberlain bank Of which he was pres
ideut, is being revived to in some way
lend color to the charge OF general rot
tenness which pervades the republican
administration OF this state. Now, II
there is anything in these ~insinuations
or charges we hope they will stick
and that some one will have backbone
enough to back up the charges he make
and not skulk out of his duty when evil
dence is required to convict. 1t is a les
son we want, and a lesson OF a summary
character too, to the effect that 1t ID
criminal and dangerous to play on the
confidence of the people and to steal
their money. Public, and especially po-
litical morality, has u to such an eoo
that 1t matters little what q man does II
he only makes money enough, he Will
escape the penalties OF the law and at
tain political and even social power.
The people themselves are of course
greatly to blame for this state OF affairs
for they too easily condone offences
against law and public morals if the vlo-
later has only money and cheek to force
his way. So far as party color IS con-
cerned, we have nothing more to expect
from, either democratic or popuilst
sources, for they have done even worse
where they came into power. What we
want and need is a revival or rather re-
cognition of personal manhood, IN the
character Of the office seeker and office
holder. Not his %moneyed influence or
political pull, but genuine, humble hon
esty. having a just sense Ut regard for
the interests of his fellow men. Not. a
man who has no regard for his oath OF
office, and will hold his fellow officers to
a strict account. Not Il man who Will
Justify to a bond three times greater
than he is actually worth or can pay If
it against. him. This Is perjury
and deserves the penitentiary. Not a
prosecuting officer who is more corrupt
than the criminal be p~rosecutes. Not a
iuryman who has no more respect Tor
the law than the law breaker whose case
he sits upon. These are all instances
however, of everyday political ~rottenness
growing out of the American craze fol-
money, power and position, In which the
sight of true manhood is lost. The en-
bezzlements of Taylor and Ruth are the
legitimate outgrowths of such a mode OF
life as We are pursuing. No worse II
ki1d only greater In degree. Large
enough 10 startle vi for a few day.
when they will again sink to the com
mon level of Yeats 1t Is not yet con
coded that all the state money is lost
1t is simply playing hide and seek IN
large game of chance, with the "heads
WIZ, tails you lose" in the hands Of tn
fellows under ban of the law. Let u
hope that those who have charge of TIL
prosecution Of these puolic thieves viii
follow them until they are behind tn
bars whether they get a cent of none
back or not. Let US hope they will fol
low the bondsmen IN their securities i
the same way If they do not put up tn
amount they have justified to, and
there 10 DO law for thus extreme let ON
be- passed at once holding every ma
criminally liable who justities on a bon
for more than he can pay. Let ever
accompiice in this defraudlng work
brought TO public justice, s % that it ma
be known of all men in this state her
after that the highest honor that can |
given any man is not TO say that he
rich or stands high In political offic
but that he Is an honest, law-abidir
citizen.