The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-07-18
DOES THE WORLD GROW BErrrR.

DOES THE WORLD GROW BETTER
That the worid.is growing better Is
proposition generally believed, vet often
questioned, The common taIings Of hu-
manity are not recorded in history or
biography and as consequence 1t is
dificult to compare the morals OF one
generation with those OF another. Even
the record Of crimes punished affords a
very unsatisfactory means Of calculating
the moral stams Of any people at any
time, as such record varies with the
s,riesness with which laws are enforced.
and with the laws themselves as much
as with the conduct OF the people.
Those who Aave occasion to ATTEND the
sittiags OF asy Of our courts win he
astoaisled At the frequency ana bOldaess
With which ore crims is aommi,,ed-
perjury Not many years ago TO be
sworn before giving testimony was
serious thing-today men take an oath
with as little concern as they emphasize
their remarks upoa the stree; corner.
This seems like an evidence of deterior.
alton in morals.
Men coupon the witness stand with a
false story at their tongues end and
periure themselves without blush.
There seems TO be a feeling that every
litigant Is expected to tell the story tha;
viii best affect his cese-that every wit
ness is justified in giving testimony
favorable to the side which calls him.
regardless OF truth. That ,his state OF
affairs exists nS one win question. Under
such circumstances he wins the case who
can produce the most probable harmon
iOus evidence, told in the most convinc-
ine manner.
Even by the most highly respected men
truth is disregarded If it conflicts with
personal interest. Men feel that they
are expected to testify to their own
advantage and do 50 shamelessiy.
The most damaging instance of this
prevalent false swearing is shown when
men make afidavits-as when verifying
accounts. statements or complaints. or
other papers in a. suit or action. An
attorney prepares the complaint in an
action. the client makes affidavit that
the facts stated therein are true. when
in nine cases out OF ten the affianr has
not and win not read the complaint.
False aHdavits are oftener made by a
defende-t verifying an answer but there
is sometimes. perhaps often, an excuse
for so doing.
IN ordinary falsehoods the rule seems
10 be that It makes no difference what
untruths one tells. just so ne doesn't get
caught at it; but when under oath men
tell falsehoods regardless Of publicity or
the punishment provided for the crime
There must be a cause for this loose.
ness in such matters What this cause
is would be difficult to say. but probably
one contributing factor is the frequenc!
with which mea take oaths, and the fail
ure Of prosecuting officials to prosecute
offenders. Who ever heard Of man De
ing sent TO the penitentiary for perjury
and yet the crime Is committed daily It
our courts Our laws require an oati
to be taken in almost every officiaI Q
legal proceeding Accounts against es
tates, against the state, all pleadings, am
every paper served must have its afH
davit attached. People become so ac
customed to the formaIity that It I
regarded as nothing else than a matte
of form and worthy Of no other con
sideration. A hardened conscience is Ger
tainly manifested when such a condition
as this exists. and it seems natura
conclusion TO say that in this respect a
least the world is growing steadily worse