The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-07
LEST WE FORGET.
Lessons for Thoughtful Americans
in Kentueky's Depravity.
San Jose Mercury.

San Jose Mercury.
The assassina ton of Senator Goehel at
Frankfort, Ky, on Tuesday. is one of
many recent events which ought to recall
the American people TO sober thought re-
speeding the republic-its traditions, its
conditions, its tendencies and the duties
and hazards which attend government by
the people. II is an incident which sug-
Eests fresh examination of an old question.
namely, are We eherishing the spirit and
sustaining the vigilance upon which the
integrity and competence Of our system
depends?
There are those who answer this ques-
tion with sneers and who make no secret
of profound distrust of our institutions;
and to every event like that at Frank
fort, which illustrates the insanity OF po-
litical passions and the evil purpose TO
rule or ruin. they point IN support Of the
theory that the people have lost the yir-
tues of an earlier time, and that We are
moving toward a condition when a system
Of force must succeed TO government by
the common will. They cite the infam!es
OF machine politics in the great cities, the
stubbornness which leaves many vaean-
cies in the United States senate. the dom-
mating power of bad men Ike Addicks IN
Delaware, Quay in Pennsylvania and Cro-
ker in New York. Referring especially TO
this Coast, they point to the reckless spirit
manifest in the recent failure OF the Ore
gon legislature to perfect It's organization,
to the open political corruption in Nevada,
Montana, Washington and in this state,
and TO the general lack of ability and char
aeter of men chosen even for the largest
public duties.
1t is impossible not 10 confess the SIG
nihcance OF these citations. Are we for
getting the traditions Of our country? Are
we losing the spirit OF our fathers? Are
we, in stupid devotion to materialitfes,
losing the virtue which holds integrity of
government and popular self-respect above
wealth and ease. Are we ceastnc to eyer-
else that eternal vigilance which is In truth
the price of liberty? These are vital ques-
lions, and that they may be asked in serl-
ousness-as they certainly may at this
ume-is OF itself demonstration of the
political ill-health which they suggest.
The Mercury is not among those who for
single moment lose faith in the Ameri-
can system. II knows enough of history &c
understand the difference between super-
nciai and organic political diseases 1t
knows enough of American character to
understand that the events above noted
proceeded from without rather than from
within 1t has supreme faith In the Amer
lean spirit in crisis But. on the other
hand. II observes with profound anpre
hension the willingness OF the pubiic tn
suffer silently under gross abuses. to SUBJ
NIT to the rule OF ignorant and vicious
men and even to excuse public crimes
upon false theory which accepts one
scheme OF morals for private life and /,
lower basis for public life Our wavs %
political thinking and our standards Of
political judgment are not what they were
mot what they ought to be- II Is not 10
be denied that there is danger 10 any coun-
try when its ablest and it's best men make
no figure In its public affairs: when its
politics takes ON such conditions that de-
cent and self-respecting men find no place
in IL.
All this sounds much like a sermon--and
perhaps 1t is none the worse for II.