The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-01-30
MORAL ESPIONAGE


The Office Of spy IL not one
which finds much SAVIOR in this
country even In the most exalted
cause. Almost every one dcspises
common informer. All feel that
"a man must have undergone con-
siderable moral degradation to en-
gage in such a vocation. And it is
we'll known that in countries where
espionage il or has been general,
general decentralization has been
natural result. To
instance a few examples,
this has been the case i'm Russia for
long period, in the Venetian Re-
public under the later Dedges, in
France under the Second Empire,
and in England under Cromwell
And in all it has been followed by
partial or complete disaster.
1t is only when the detective is
invested with official authority by
the State that the odium attaching
10 his occupation is somewhat re-
duced. Yet other times had other
manners. We regard with min
gled scorn and amazement the i'm
mense powers which were exer-
cised by the Roman Censors. They
appear to have interfered in the
most private and domestic affairs
of the citizens, and to have fined or
imprisoned at discretion. And this
when the Romans prided them
selves in their supposed freedom,
Dress food, table decorations, gem
Aral conduct, religion, and morals,
all came within the scope Of their
authority, aid yet the people con-
tinued deter.orating from bad to
worse. And it was little better in
he palmiest days of Greece. IN
reference with personal liberty
had much to do with the decadencc
ol both it and Rome.
We have been led to these re-
Elections by very ordinary cir
'umstance, namely, visit from Il
lady Of good intentions. She is in
telligent, well educated, of ire
probable conduct, and ardently
desirous of correcting social evils.
She regards sexual and social pur-
ity as indispensable to happy aud
prosperous community. So do we.
But she would take one method to
accomplish reform, and we anoth
er. To her, ours is half-hearted
and ridiculous; to us, hers is despic-
aalea aud tyrannical. We would
rely on economic improvements
on teaching, eXhortation and ex.
ample; she on following up mora
delinquents in public and private
in bounding them wherever they
may be found by any sort of es
pionage, and on making their lives
intolerable to them. The one is {
Purtanic Stoicism which any cru.
ely disposed person may practice
the other is that compassionate
course which was inculcated by
the wisdom and tenderness of thu
Great Founder of Christianity, ant
which, we humbly believe, ha
never been surpassed.
When two women, both earnes
and both right in their own opin
ions, come together, the discussion
is certain to be warm and prolOng
ed. Neither of us could convinc,
the other, nor make the least fav
orable impression, and SO w
parted, she, no doubt, regarding th'
views opposed to hers as practi
cally foolish, and we regrettin,
that well-me aiming lady should b.
bent upon desperate and fata
course. The argument had BEEF
sharp and fatiguing. The comfort
able couch invited rest, so tina
when she had gone there was moth
: ing better than to close ones eye
and endulge In a quiet reverie.
When the seers Of old wished t
peep into the future, they judici
. ously went asleep. The human
brain, especially the very weary 0
j., the excited brain, is great som
nambulist. 1t travels far and pei
' ceives much. Somehow, we tray
, elled into the two thousandth Ger
tury,--A. d., 1920, and saw tn
/, progress which had been made b
those whom "The Daily Tele
graph" in its choice and felititou
language has named "Prowlin
: Prudes." They had won all alon
, the line since our visitor had left
t quarter of q century, in whic
, each New Year brought successiv
!, victories. County Councils an
, Municipal Governments were the
- humble and obedient instrument
! They had captured the legislator