The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-08-06

gain, while he looks placidly into the
faces of the rag beaten millions and
says: avery man for himself" In
his position of public trust or private
treason he burrows like the busy SPUR
rel, weak places in the pedestal of our
government and covers it all by the
fact that this is legal destruction.
We have gotten so used to this man
ner of action among certain class,
that we are wont to deem any other
course by their associates as work of
mercy. Only a few weeks ago our
government accepted gift of 100000
from a woman philanthropist of
America. No one can accord to Helen
Gould any thing but the highest praise,
but this praise is due only from the
fact that she had the strength to stand
for principle in the face of opposition
and hand back to her fellow men the
gold that her father, the Wall Street
king, wrested from them.
Too often in peace the motto of our
American citizen is: EVERY man for
himself" Whatever dangers may
threaten, whatever wrongs may exist,
be sees them not or pretends not to see
them, in the mad race for self gain,
until the long impending storm bursts
and covers himself and the government
he has neglected to shield, in whirl-
pool of dangerous perplexity.
Just now every loyal citizen of the
Uuited States, whether his loyalty is
real or supposed, contributes all his
strength to the support of our flag in
the Spanish-American crisis. The
danger from without has quickened his
dead sense of duty to his nation, but is
it not, so far as as he is concerned, a
case of "Closing the barn door after the
horse is stolen" He has lived on, year
after year with little regard for aught
but himself, and when the crisis comes,
has he the right to expect government
whose welfare he and his fellow men
have sacrificed in their avariCious con.
test, to withstand all difficulties with
out having been previously strengthen
ed by the might of loyal subjects. If
in this case, Judas is capitalist, or
banker, or belongs in any way to the
swarm of mammonists, he probably
contributes gift to the government !
and excites the admiration and respect |
of those whose hearts lie in its preser- |
walton and unity, but rejecting upon |
cause and effect, we are impelled to say |
in the name of an insulted government |
Judas Iscariot, betrayest thou our
government with paltry gift?" For
after the war is oyer, what position,
Judging by the past will this man take |
If history repeats itself as it has been
wont to do, for every time he has shout
ed "ltenemDer tie Maine" or "down
with Spanish tyranny" he will have
weakened the government four fold
BY his own selfshness and treachery.
But nowhere is this traitorous type of
manhood more clearly eYinced than in
OF late years politics has
been so generally polluted and permea-
ed with fraud that few who pose as
politicians escape being made the tar
get of narrowing epithets. In the
hands of the politician lies our future.
Who then is so foolish, so thimble
'rained, as to expect government 10
hriVe under the leadership of polluted
minds spurred to action only by the
lope of self reward. In the guise of
he politician Judas Iscariot yields a
,ower he can find no where else.
Against the financier and the poll
ician then, let abused humanity guard.
But can we find this spirit evinced
anywhere else? Aye! the face of our
'roud land is literally besprinkled with
heir obnoxious presence, no matter in
Vhat profession, trade, business, or
flee we find men, an appalling per
emit of them seem blind to that second
reat commandment "Thou shalt love
by neighbor as thysslf.
Comparing Christ's betrayal to that
t the government, what a distinct
is manifest. Jesus Christ led
crusade against sin for the sake of |
lffering humanity. Our government
lads a crusade for us "in order to form
more perfect union, establish justice.
lsure domestic tranquility. nrovide