The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-25

theory that whatever is secured IN
pnhllc affairs is TO be paid FOR is growing
every day. and II is rapidly becoming
tho basis upon which all public matters
are founded in every part Of Ohis
Union. We were comparatively exempt
I'm virginia from tho pcrnlcious doctrine
untn the advent OF Malone in our poll
tics. but he founded his whole theory
~ rule upon the idea rhat public place
was TO be bought with public piunder and
from the day he nauSurated the custom
IL has been steadily growing until IL Is
almost AS prevalent here now as In New
Ner,, and almost as rotten as 1t Is IN
amy politlcal dive OF Philadelphia. TWEEN
tv-nvo wears ago the foremost citizens
of virginia offered themselves for pubhe
Office. trusting for election to the con-
aGence the people had in their upright
ness and integrity, and because they hold
views upon the public questions Of the
day that tho people believed would work
for tholr advantage. Who dreams OF go
ing before the people now with that as
the theory upon which he expects to be
elected? No ono. The man who expects
election goes to the bar-room brawler
who has a following OF dead-beats and
heclcrs. and promises him that If lie Will
toll his cohorts into the candidates sup
port tho brawler and all Of his tooters
shall he taken care OF at the public
expensc; and when tho conventions arc
held. that make the nominations. these
tooters arc found there as delegates, and
they nominate their man for pay just as
emphatically as the bootblack gives
'shine" for five cents.
twenty-five years ago, the candidate
for office in Virginia who was suspected
Of seeking to secure his nomination or
election by such disreputable practices
ne these would have been driven from
the field by storm of popular outcry'
and he. would have been branded and
a dishonored man in the community from
that time forward.
This is not the case now Men DO
these things openly and hagranty
and. instead of being branded by So
ciety. if they meet with success they
are first tolerated and soon given a place
Of honor and trust.
II may be said that this Is evolution
and, since II is developed by natural
process il must work for the public good
in the end. But evolution develops the
poison of the upas tree as well as the
beauty and fragrance of the rose. we
must exert ourselves to keep the forces
Of nature working in the right direction
or they will produce us moral upas trees
where we ought TO have roses.
Lord salisburys recent speech upon
the living and the dying nations Ought
10 sink deeply into the minds of all men
who hope to see their country keep al
WAYS upon the high road that leads to
honor and prosperity. And the lesson
which that speech most earnestly I'M
pressed was that corruption in pubic
life inevitably leads to national decay
and death. He said:
.'They are mainly communities that
are not Christian, but l regret TO say
that is not exclusively the case. Ana
I'm these States disorganization and de-
cav are advancing almost as fast as
concentration and increasing power are
advancing in the living nations that
stand opposite them. Decade after de-
cade they are weaker, poorer, and less
provided with leading men or institutions
i'm whom they can trust, apparently
drawing nearer and nearer TO their fate,
and yet clinging with strange tenaciiy TO
the life which they have not. In them
misgovernment is not only not cured.
but is constantly on the increase. The
society. and official society-the admins
tration. IS a mass Of corruption. so that
there is no firm ground on which any
hope OF reform or restoration could be
based. and I'm their various degrees they
are presenting a terrible picture TO the
more enlightened portion of the world.
a picture which unfortunately the in
crease in the means OF our Information
and communication draws with brighter
] should say darker--and more cOnspicu-
Gus lineaments, in the fact OF the eyes
OF all nations, and appeal to their feel
ing. as well as to their interests"
The nation that abandons IFS love of
truth. its devotion TO right. and a pas
sion for justice. and adopts in their
place the desire for success, whether
achieved by honest or dishonest means,
IS on the sure high road to a place
amongst Lord Salisburys dying nations.