Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-05
REFORM MUST BEGIN AT THE
TOP.

"Thc love of money is the root of all
evil" and it is this love that gives
money and monied men, corpora tons
and combines their dangerous power.
Causing evil under all circumstances
even when it is trying to do and is
doing good-moncy is actively employ
ed in all things to seduce, to betray.
to take every advantage and to bride
and corrupt. 1t is this active evil
energy of money, working upon and
cooperating with the love of money,
that makes it the curse of the age:
and. curiously enough, the scarccr
money is. the more evil it does, within
the sphere of its operation, as even
virtue of man or woman falls in price
with everything else, as the volume of
currency contracts and the circulating
medium becomes more difficult to get
Even in the interests of morality, then
all good men should DO in favor OF
more money and currency expansion on
fair system.
There is no doubt. however. If bril-
berry could be prevented, or checked
much evil would be ed,-cspccially
in politics and public affairs. 4 Mr.
Lundy Kent. of Wilmington, Del. re-
wives an old suggestion, as if he
thought it not only new, but believed it
to be an infalliblc remedy for bribery.
Mr.. Kent is mistaken in both assump-
TONS lie suggests that-in any case OF
bribery. If the brbcd person VIII in
form on the briber, he shall have fun
impunity and keep the bribe fine. inn
prisonment and political disability to
be piled on the briber This is old.
and moreover. it has been tried to some
extent. with little good effect.
Like every offence which may be con
summated by two willing persons,
without the knowledge of any other
person, bribery is very difficult Ia
prove. prevent, or detect and tho
bribec. as rule. is as anxious to con-
ceal the transaction as the briber
while he has the additional motive for
not betraylng his briber in lively
sense of favors TO comc.--in more
brides. Besides, juries do not care tc
convict any respectable man. OF any
standing. on the unsupported testimon,
of one who confcsses his own infamy
and thereby proves himself unworthy
of credit
What is needed is n higher sense OF
morality in all grades OF society; n
stern public opinion which will neither
condone nor tolerate any triliing with
or compromise of. honor. honesty. or
good faith and n sclf-rcspcct amonr
men as nice as that among women: nc
association with the polluted, though
his crime was FOR US or our party
what are we to expect. when promi-
nen; men may be guilty Of any per-
nay for high office. or any man may
do almost any rascaliiy, IL he obtain
DIG sum therefor in profits, with nc
loss OF caste in society, no loss of pub.
lie standing. and with nabatcd Nvcr-
ence even from the church and its
ministers?
III VAN are 'scapc- goats made of the
humble and the poor. Before good and
justice. the poor. degraded and icno-
rant devil who sells his ballot for a
dollar or two that he ana his wife and
children sadly need, is less guilty and
despicablc than the Senator or party
leader who sells himself, ana seeks tc
betraN his party. for foreign mission
or a seat in the Cabinet. or a seat on
the bench Of The United States Supreme
Court.
Eectify and elevate public opinion IN
'hesc cases and the like. and then bri-
berry and corruption will abate every.
where. but not before
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