The herald., 1896-10-17
ETHICALLY CONSIDERED

Some Of the very righteous organs of
McKinleyism exhibit a great degree of
indignation at the suggestion that the
majority of workingmen who wear Nc
Kinley buttons do so to retain their jobs,
but that they will vote for Bryan. 1t is,
no doubt, true that very many industrial
wage-earners are shouting for the Can
ton man, but will vote against him when
they go to the polls. 1t will be admitted
that they are playing the hypocrite, and
that they are putting splotches upon
their moral characters, but are there no
extenuating circumstances? AS rule,
it is safe and it is right to condemn
man for debauching his higher self,
without stopping to inquire into the
cause of his conduct. for the presump-
ton is he does it deliberately to deceive,
but could there not conditions of eXis-
tence be forced upon one which would
justify him in departing from the ways
of truth? Certainly not if he is actu-
ated by malicious intent, but if actuated
by love of home and family. what then?
AS a class, the wage earners of this
country are men of integrity and honesty
of purpose, and so long as the rights
which their manhood entities them to
are not withheld arbitrarily, their acts
are the outward expression of their true
selves. But that is true of all men of
character whatever their vocation may
be- Now, if it is true, and it undoubted-
ly is. that industrial operatives in some
localities are wearing Mckinley but
tons to deceive their employers into be-
lieVing that they will vote for Mckin-
ley, when it is their determined pur-
pose to secretly vote for Bryan, the
conclusion must be that there are cir
cumstances or conditions confronting
them. which, in their judgment. fully
Justify their hypocrisy. The question,
is. what circumstances or conditions
have been thrust upon them that in
cline them to wear mask upon their
purpose? 1t wilfnot be difficult to find
satisfying answer to the question.
1t is the fact--it is notorious fact
that very many managers of industrial
enterprises in the east more especially,
have notified their employees. indirectly.
at least, that opportunity to continue
in the employ of the industries is con-
tingent upon their hearty espousal of
the cause of Mckinley. The operatives
were thus driven TO choose between en-
forced idleness on the one hand and
the sacrifice of their honest convictions
on the other. No doubt, their outraged
manhood would have caused them to
denounce their employers. whether en-
| forced idleness followed or not, but when
they remembered that home would soon
| be desolate and little ones crying for
| bread if they were deprived of opportu-
| nifty to earn wages, naturally enough
| they would hesitate to give expression
to their indignation, and. naturally. too.
upon second thought, they would resolve
to promise to vote as was demanded of
them but with a mental promise 10
themselves that they would cast their
vote for the one whose principles were
more in harmony with their own honest
convictions The resolve to do that was
also a resolve to live a lie-to live a false
life-that the home might be preserved
and the loved ones might be spared the
pangs of hunger Therefore, thev
smiled in apparent happy contentment
when they accepted the Mckinley but
ton, but it was, in fact. the smile of
falsehood.
But upon whom rests the burden of all
this lying and hypocrisy? The opera
tives did not seek for opportunity to live