The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-17
Faithiess Among the Faithful.

The rascality of financial agent Neel-
ey and his conversion of funds belong
ing to the Cuban postal service direct
attention to the admirable freedom
heretofore from all scandals of this sort
of the administration Of territory re-
Gently brought under the government
of the United States. Regretting as we
do this faithlessness to a most sacred
trust, and joining in the universal de-
mand not only that this scoundrel be
hunted down and punished but that
cised in the choice of all administrative
officers for the islands at present under
our control, we ask. at the same time
that the people of this country remem-
Der the comparative freedom from Of
fences of this sort enjoyed by those
whose affairs have been entrusted to US
No race. no country and no political
party has a monopoly of dishonesty.
Neither has any form of government
In all and under all, thieves sneak in
and do their work. 1t is the business
of a government to attain the highest
possible standard Of honesty; but until
human nature changes, it's success will
be relative and not absolute There is
no day in the year when some official
of the United States or of some state
or municipal government is not under
investigation or undergoing trial for
malfeasance. Yet our system of choos-
ing our officers is the best known and
the national character Is high. No
method has been devised and none ever
will be by which dishonest men will
always be excluded from public place.
We consider 1t splendid record that
in our long occupation of Cuba, in our
administration of Puerto Rico, in our
direction of affairs in the Philippines,
fallen upon the American name. Thous-
ands of our citizens and army officers
are busted with the affairs of these peo-
pies. The opportunity is tempting The
scene is distant and supervision diff
cult. The chances to turn a dishonest
penny are innumerable. These races,
whose own moral standard is not high
and whose conception of office is formed
upon the Spanish model, would show
neither surprise nor anger at an offered
turning aside from duty. They would
use 1t for their own purpose. accept 1t
reflection more serious than that the
"Americanos' were like all the rest of
the world. Resentment or the desire to
expose would be almost unintelligible
to them.
Working in such fields and with such
material, the United States has admin.
istered large territories, dealt with af-
fairs great and small. handled millions
OF money through agents selected nee
essarily with some haste. 1t is no less
than wonderful. 1t is a compliment TO
the American character, it is tribute
to the sincere high mindedness of the
administration that this service is so
nearly impeccable; that it has averaged
so much higher than the general run
of the civil service in our states and
cities.
It is imperative that this standard be
maintained and that any DETECTION from
It be punished with the utmost severity.
The unfriendly world has fixed its eyes
upon us. greedy for an excuse to assert
that we have sought only the exploita-
ton Of new lands for mercenary pur-
poses The people of this country are
doubly sensitive to the call Of honor.
For while there is too much tenderness
among them for man who fllches from
the public treasury, they unite in abhor-
renee of the miserable scoundrel who
would abuse a nations trust and em-
bezzle the money of people helpless
and dependent upon us. 1t is our pride
that so many are faithful where but
one Is found faithless. 1t reflects the
highest credit upon the national admin
istration. and at the same time It EN-
phasizes the need Of redoubled diligence
TO see that none but men whose charac-
ter is above suspicion or reproaeh
should be admitted TO any positions Of
trust among the people OF our new de-
Tendencies.
Democrats are ohjecting because the
hotel-keepers Of Kansas City propose
TO charge visitors to the convention IS
a day for board and lodging and put