The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1900-12-08

onoe expression ~ a. apprehension Of the fundamentals
III good government as old organized
IA PUBLIC society iAelf. This age not arrcgate
nrrcp Il W itself either the discovery of thus basic
truth III its first application to civil life
inuSl indeed Lecky most plausbly contends that
- the Pagan civilizations we're far superior
inclvc WRITES AZ tpse modern designate Chris
tiap It snnt il the appreciation If the value Of this es-
seniial TRUTH abstract concept of the philosopher
induging The paSlime III framing theoretical c'ns-
tutons b'9 rather M ils practical appca ion to the
duct Of tle real affairs IL government that society real
lies the bsrehts accFuin9 honest administration of
its public functions
The Nhole history "a the framing of a system of gov
eminent fer The Federal union shows that from the very
inception of The the efforts of the founders of
this republic earnestly directed towards evolving
scheme b which the honest administration of public office
was 70 BE- pcrpetuaY assured u their posterity The
nnweafsi determination III whose counses finally
prevailed provide ~ short terms andfrequent elections
asateguad agaSt tie possibility Of long continued mail
feasaace ii odce. hears testimony I'd Their realization that
nits last laA ss he success Of sucha plan of govern
ment depends upon the degred integrity with
which the aes III The various ocessnecessay its
duct be d charged
IN ui faT they have been impressed by observa
tion with the probability Of Americans jealousy demand
ing the pfubty In their public officials, in just
such dege have the great foreign commentators upon
the American of argued the possibility
the perpetuiiy of American institutions. Nearly
enty years ago The first Of these began his study of
nsttuties and though time has failed to stamp its APP
prova upsu the wisdom of of his conclusions, yet
many of De observations full of force and
Truth today IN commenting upon the corruption and
vice of officials under democracy and the consequent
effect uli public morality, he writes "A distinction
must Be nade when the arstocrac and the democratic
inveigh against each Other, as tending
e. sISIn aristocratic governments the
individuals who are lss. :. the head Of affairs rich
men, wb solely deslrous of power. In democracies
n EA+ they have their fortunes 70 make" He con-
Guides that officials ii democraces accessible to
corruption Many Of the have been in the adj
ADMINISTRATION of France during the last forty years have
been accused making their fortunes at the of
the state; a reproach which was rarely adj
dressed Ii the public characters Of the ancient monarchy
il the Uuited States | have often heard the
prbits public officers questioned still more frequently
have Ieard their attributed to low ntrgues and
Immoral practices In comparing the effect of corrup-
tion il officials upon the people of arisocraces and DEM
oyraces, he concludes that while in the former their
morality may lie directly assailed lin the latter an nd
rect influence is exercised upon the people which still
more to lie dreaded
ii i lust here that the evil consequences incident to
k If rict probity In officials be most harmful in
thc effect upon the public mind Unless the lapse
he too fragrant let pass we men who have been
placed in Office by the votes Of majority through the
of faction pursue with mpunty practices
absolutely criminal in character Through faconal APP
peas men come to feel that they must support their par
t,cnlar official and lend him countenance regardless
Of what he does. In turn, the official
probably having secured his place through
Glow nirques and immoral practices" proceeds 'to pill
lao the public purse and yend the favors of the state
MOI scrpes at dischargng his private political obligations
at the expense of public funds.
Who is responsible for such abuses of official position
The public almost solely Such practices obtain only in
those states and communities wherein through habitual
the public conscience has become scared
md t public sense of decency and propriety dulled
Is Ii lie ready to accept Justification the plea Of par
L 81 faction that The other would possibly do worse,
,nIy in power.
The public. however, never remains qulescent for
nv great length of time We have revots against
Tamnmny IN New York and gagging at similar methods
,earer home OF one thing every public official may
sired, that ID surely the day after the night
vii his every Official act later be laid bare-that
he y course Of permanent safety is in the practice of
,riyaie honesty in public pacethat public Office is
,ablic trust
The attitude Of the Southern states is unique and in
liter contnvenfion Of all theories OF republican, represen