The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-28
ROOSEVELTISMS.
From an Address. at Chicago, Feb %, OF
"The Duties of Citizenship"


From an Address, at Chicago, Feb. D. on
1.-The Duties of Citizenship
As yet there is not within ken of human
vision SO much as the first dawn streak
of the day of universal peace: and woe 10
the nation with blind eyes who believes
that the sunburst of such a day Is at hand.
As yet life is strife, and every man VINO
succeeds, and who does good to his lei
lows, can only succeed, and can only do
good, by striving nightly and by holding
his own with a ready hand in the war
for Righteousness. As yet we need wise
laws, well administered. to keep the
wicked in check. and to prevent the wreck
of decent men; as yet we need. as every
nation needs, TO stand ready to defend our
honor and our interest with the sword If
We do our work well in that grim ana
painful but necessary struggle through
which all of US, individuals and nations
alike, are moving slowly forward toward
the unknown goal which the future
ShrolldS from the most far-Sighted.
There Is great need for the exercise of
criticism, both by public men and by the
press: but there Is even greater need that
this criticism should be honest and should
be digniiied in tone. Many of the most
prominent newspapers in the land, and not
a few politicians whose voices are heard
even in the houses of the national legisia-
ture. make us hang our heads for shame
as Americans by the foul indecency Of
their assaults: assaults made quite as
frequently ON the best as on the worst Of
our public servants. These writers and
speakers are a disgrace to the community
which seriously respects Washington's
great name: though it is comfort when
We are inclined to feel too gloomy about
the life of the present time to remember
that these base creatures OF our own day
had their prototypes among the newspaper
writers and politicians who slandcred
Washington while he lived.
This country stands in very little danger
of tyranny or loss OF liberty. The un-
scrupulous greed of some great corpora
tons or some individual in whom the
money getting faculty Is unWh WholeSOmely
developed while the higher and better
qualities are completely athrophied. may
at times cause danger: but the evil thus
caused can always. under a system of pop
ular suffrage, be remedied by the election
of officers who are just and decent. If our
judges are both incorruptible and also le-
sirous to do substantial justice. rather
than to weave webs Of technicality; If our
legislators are at the same time free from
the spirit of demagogy, and yet bent upon
sternly Furnishing any man who takes
advantage of his wealth to wrong either
the public or persons of less means then
the days of the improper power of wealth
Will be brought to u speedy close. But the
spirit of anarchy ana lawleSsness Is far
more powerful. 1t may at any time he
come "a real danger: and moreover il
should always be horne in mind especjnI-
ly by the demagogic denouncers of riches
that the power of corrupt wealth is ten
fold more effective in a community giycn
over TO lawless disorder than il Is else
where. The Surest friend of the criminal
rich Is the monctarily successful repre-
sentative of the criminal poor The high
est political official who encourages a
mob. or who condones the acts of the vio-
lent and disOrderly classes, is sure TO
rouse II spirit of reaction which NAV
cause almost as much damage as his own
wicked folly. No man SO much as the hon
est citizen of small means is interested
in the war against the anarchist the mob
leader and the demagoguc No public Of
hcer who falls to do all in his power to
suppress acts of violence and Iawlessnees
should be pardoned by decent people for
he Is a more deadly foe to our country
than the worst criminal he pa rdons or the
worst scoundrel whose deeds he abets
So on the other hand, the high govern
mental officer. whether he be a senator,
like Senator Davis. or a judge. like Judge
Gary, who wars fearlessy on anarchy, is
the best and truest friend of the people
Washington was on the whole the great
est and purest champion of orderly liberty
that the world has ever seen: but he was
relentless In putting down disorder
Washington stood, and now stands, for
the elemental moralities. for the elemental
principles of right, for the elemental vir-
tues of honesty, truth. str:ight forward |
ness, courtesy and fearlessness In de- |
evil and upholding good. He |