Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-10-26
TO DoBETTERIs DUTY.

ton, In morals or reason, to iniure
others or himself and as all wrong
doing is Injurious to somebody, and es-
pecially to ones self, the folly of 1t
is equal to its wickedness. If one has
anything to do (and who has not?), to
neglect 1t. or idle over 1t, or In any
wise to do it other than the best one
can and knows how. is an obvious loss,
and 1t is equally obvious that the chief
loss Is to him who fails to do his best:
for thus he makes himself, forms his
habits. develops his character, ana
hence becomes worthless, or unproiita-
BILE and unsuccessful.
Always, too, the evil Is to the boy, or
man. himself. Others may avoid his
wrong-doins, but he cannot; they are
able to bear 1t, but he is not. Morals
rise and fall with habits; and even a
lazy person, by simply failing to do
what, or as much, as he should. de-
frauds himself and others, decreases
his own value and standing. and the
result is that the defect of ideness, or
a lack OF diligence, grows into fixed
and deliberate design to defraud others.
to get something for nothing. until dis
honesty becomes ruling trait, with its
consequences to character and conduct.
All this appears early in life, In the
plays and occupations of boys: In tho
industries and enterprises of men; and
IN the acts of rulers and nations. In
every Instance the wrong has an ex-
cuse or pretext; or n lure of pleasure
or profit; and probably the best prac-
teal test for the generality OF men in
judging between right and wrong Is the
presence or absence of excuse and lure
IL they are present and have to be en-
pioyed to explain and defend our acts
TO ourselves or others. the acts are us
ually of such nature that, at least
there were other pursuits in which our
time and resources could have been bet
ter engaged: that Itself condemnine
what we have done.
Nor is any man exempt or relieved
of moral responsibility because of bis
personal and domestic relations, or his
social and business relations, or his
public and political relations AIoroli-
~ is the law OF conscience which ot.
taches to every man. under all ctrcum-
stances; and there is no plea that can
answer the right and truth of anv mar
ter' except In abatement of what one
may do by reason of inability, or dis.
ABILITY. through poverty. ignorance. or
other lack of strength and capacity.
Tor wealth, knowledge and all power
impose obligations according to their
degree, and in nowise confer privileges
and exemptions in duty. Nor Is anv
man elevated above his liabilities nv
his position as a public officer. or as
an oihcer or member of any govern
ment, syndicate, corporation, associa-
ton, or trust
His moral identity and responsible
ty are inseparable from the man. be ha
director or SHAREHOLDER, emperor
King, President, PREMIER minister, Cit
izen, or what not; and they who saw
that Senators Hoar and Edmond. OK
Secretary of the Treasury Boutwell,
Mr.. Edward Atkinson and others. not
to speak of our Democrats, should sup
port Mr.. Mckinley in his criminal ag-
erosion" upon the Filpinos, are not
only unjust, but positively immoral.
as equal citizens OF free country. and
that country the country of Washing
ton, JEFFERSON and Patrick Henry. the
country of the Declaration of Independ-
ence and the constitution, it is their
duty to protest against and denounce
a policy so grossly violative OF good
faith and all our fundamental princi-
Pies as that Dursucd 50 cruelty IN yne
Philippines; and base. indeed, the men
who, knowing and feeling the true
spirit of 1776, could become consenting.
acquiescing. or silent accomplices of SO
vile and abominable n course of crime
against liberty. independence and the
rights of mana course all the more
criminal and outrageous because per-
petrated by men who officially misrep-
resent the genius and mission of this
Republic among the people and the ma
tons Of the earth.
Chamberlain could have done better
than to remorselessly force the South
African Republic into a bloody war
that is apparently hopeless, Mckinley
could have done better than to make
war upon the Flipinos, our late allies
who fought Spain for that liberty and
independence it was our duty to give
them; for these are both unnecessary.
nay, unjustifiable wars, unnecessarily
sacrificing life and treasure on all sides
for wrong against right
I'VE still have judgment here.-that We
but teach
Bloody instructions. which. being