The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-28

was no mere theorlst: he was an eminent
ly practical man. Like that other great
American, the mighty son of Illinois.
Abraham Lincoln. he never refused To do
the best possible merely because he did
not think IL was the ideal best, Ham
pered and worried by the um'dl;y, folly,
seliishness of The polite ians. and too often
of the people. of his day, h did not there
fore scornfully refuse further TO work
for the country or dena nd impossible con-
ditions before he would go into public life.
he presevered, and. though he never lost
his own lofty ideals. he made allowance
for men of lesser moral stature.
4 man who is Il brilliant phrasemaker
and uses his talent TO advance what Is
low and base is unfit for public life in
commonwealth which seriously puts
Washington forward as an example. This
is true of the politicians who advocate
what is evil Ii Is true TO an even greater
extent of the bolder politicians who ac-
tually do what is evil. The man who
steals a legislature, the man who wins
a governorship by wholesome fraud ana
violence at the polls. the man who buys
u senatorship by bribery, whether with
money or office, each and every one OF
these will be repudiated by any communal
ty which puts into practice its belief in
Washington's greatness.
Wealth Is good thing, but il Is i'll to
acquire it AT the cost of losing the power
to see that there are other things which
are even better Refinement and cultiva-
ton are also good things; they are quail
ties which we should strive in every why
TO acquire: and we feel nothing but con-
tempt for the fool who jcers at education
but this fool Is partially justified by the
worse folly of the man who really does
strive to shape educa tion so that 1t shall
eliminate the manly qualities. Cultiva-
ton ana refinement are too dearly pur-
chased If they are bought at the cost Of
the loss of the great fighting virtues, or Of
the cost of the loss OF a spirit of intense
Americanism.
The man. whether politician or editor
or private citizen, who would hesitate TO
draw the sword for his country when men
aced by foreign foe or who condones or
practices dishonesty in public life. or who
subOrdinates the nations welfare to the
welfare of an Individual or q faction or
who either Improperly defends bad men
or slanderously and wantonly assails good,
Is hiinSelf an enemy OF the nation
the politician and the soldier who try
to live up to the principles which Wash
ington illustrated by word and deed alike
are showing themselves tit to be called his
couhtrymcn. But ii would be impossible
10 regard with too contemptuous aversion
those men who now and then on parade
occasions express devotion to Washing
ION memory, but who 10y the whole tenor
OF their lives show their Indifference to
all that he thought most vital.
The question of putting on the statute
books any laws, on whatever subject,
which are bitterly distasteful to certain
classes is one on which honest men may
differ; but there should be no difference OF
opinion among honest men as to the en-
forcement of law.
No man is a good citizen of the COM
munity who lacks either the will or the
capacity to wage rough warfare against
lawlessness and against the foes of order,
no less than against he foes of liberty.