New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-31


men in ways less directly dishonest so subtle
often as TO admit ever of sef-decepfion' hl''heS
itself really the greatest stumbngDlock III TIE
path TO better social and political CONDITIONS
1t Is not the slums that make the city we IL
is not the boss alone who makes poli'ics uishoi-
est II Is not the foreign element that mikes 'he
fieht against vice and crime sometimes s'e'n
almost hopeless. II is the stoiid resistance oI
the mass Of respectable citizens, VINO fehci'h'c
themselves on their virtue. that always prevents
The perfection Of any reform nj III" polht "heIe
tho doing away with an evil threatens indirectly
some vested interest. some perhaps honest but
essentially selfish private scheme. A''en"p' W
enforce an excise law and The highly rcspectar'e
and benevolent brewer, who would not dream
of snatching n loaf from drunkards VIE vi
Of selling a drink unlawfully, at once becomes
the partisan Of lawbrcakers. Try TO clear tue
sidewalks in the wholesale district anu ho'e
the business men, who groan so under tue c'liS
of miscoyerpnent. protest that there Is such
thing rs carving reform too far. Drive an IN
vestjration of the old police corruption or OF me
dongs of anv city department much DcioW the
surface and see the bankers and merchants
who have received favors from public servants
whose business secrets-perhaps entirely proper
business sccrets-are known to officials. rally
ouetly but effectively TO keep their old friends
from heinc ANNOYED. Seek 10 stop the killing
of neonle by reckless motormen, and the very
stockholders whose children may be endangered
stand IN the way. Start to compel the owners
Of franchise 10 give adequate compensation Tor
their privileges. or in any way restrict tneH
activities for the public good. and corporation
lawyer will arise, eloqucntly directing attention
to the more pressing need or stopping POKER
games Let any movement he started Tor tne
publication Of politics. and the foundation Oh
the power of machines and bosses VIII De Iouhu
not in the br!betakers and petty traders VINO
are always so dsgusiingly apparent. but IN the
attorneys the bankers, the Insurance men, tue
heads of corporations. whose Interests may ne
helped or hurt by legislation. They may know
perfertly well that the men they are protecting
are corrupt. but nothing can induce them To FISK
mourning the anger OF those who by some cnance
might still for a time remain in power so they
90 on supporting them. paying backmail 10
them and innocent themselves of desire Tor
plumber become parakers of corruption
Some of these men who thus support evil are
themselves rascals who. cloaked In respectable
ity. are engaged in deliberate and Intentional
robbery Of their fcow-men. Not so the most
of them The majority mean 10 be honest
They deal fairly in Il real estate transfer ana
give full measure for q ton Of coal. lnmpeach
able is their honor. Judged by conventional stand
ards. Unfortunately, they have forgotten that
conventional standards do not measure man
RESPONSIBILITIES in life They talk glibly OF pure
government and themselves do more than any
body else TO debauch il. They talk against
crime and extend their own hands To- criminals
They demand unselhsh administration. and are
themselves kept immobile hy se!ii>hncSs. Ihey
will not realize that wron= Is not less wrong
because committed indirectly. that cowardice is
not less cOwardly because yelled under the name
of business prudence. that dirty money is not
less dirty because il has passed over many
palms So calm in the consciousness OF their
own responsibility and much concerned for the
cleansing Of the masses, they themselves go
through the world with dirty hands.