The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-27
A Point Of n

- As " 1otiS "
humanity. the beggar is pretty sure 10
linger OF the outskirts or follow at the
tail of il. We are familiar with his
disgusting tricks and his shrill whine in
every foreign place of resort. We are
getting to know him too well even in
our own large cities. And we are be-
coming altogether too we'll acquainted
with his less respectable copy in the
person of the man or woman who is not
ashamed to ask favor or help, without
merit earned or prospect of return, from
individuals or from the people in their
public capacity. We are not yet a ma
ton Of beggars. but the tendency IN
that direction is palpably n painfully
manifest
There is not a man of known wealth
who is not in receipt daily Of begging
letters by the basketful. A college boy
whose father had left him a large for
tune received not less than 5000 OF these
every year. from utter strangers. Ia
many cases the total is much larger.
Helen Gould is said 70 have had over
1900 such communications recently
within a single week, containing an ag-
gregate demand for a million and a half
OF money. Nor is this species Of beg
eing more reprehensible than the con-
slant demand made upon every public
body holding power to appropriate pub
lie funds for private benefit, and upon
all persons holding positions of power
for s,necures and favors. Taking the
total, we have an appalling army Of
American mendicants. and cease TO
think as sneeringly as we did once of
tho alien lazzaroni.
One Of the best chapters In an inter-
esting little book by Prof. Sumner fows
out OF the text, Every American citi-
zen Is n sovereign, but a sovereign can.
not take tips" 1t was one of the fore
most ideas in the minds of the founders
of the republic. Is 1t quite as proml-
nent and clear-cut today? Have we
maintained their fine spirit of indepen-
derce? For independence. it must be
remembered, carries a wider meaning
than the refusal to accept the domino
ton of any external power. It involves
personal pride. The men OF the colo.
MES Were men who would have scorned
an uncaIned contribution to their sun-
port as they would have resented a
bride. 1t is that fine determination Of
the man to be his own master. to bow
10 none, to strike down the Insult Of
the hand that bears a tip, call IT by
what name you may, which alone
makes independence possible either In
the Individual or in the mass.
We take no pessimlstlc view Of the
ter'per ana mettle of Il people. There
VIII be beggars among them, Just as
there must be a percentage Of other de-
fectives; men with impaired phvsical
and bodily organs as well as men wh,
could tolerate the bread OF charity. Orr
care must be TO recognize the trait "a
a surviving meanness. not to excuse
or Sid fl. The nation and all It's in
stitutions will fare exactly according to
the type of individual citizenship. Our
scotn o. dependence has carried us into
n few etsurdities, hut It has wrought
itselt also into the noblest national char
acter. That character will be lost from
the inomen that men in any number
are willing 10 trade the sense Of per-
sonaI Independence for any good on
earth. 10 matter with what casulstr.
they try to persuade themselves that
there Is d pure and disiuterested motive
belird the curtain.
\ sovereign csnnot take tips. 1t is a
splendid motto for every American cit
izen 10 remember. It would look we'll
written over the door OF every publie
building, from the national capital t,
the village council chamber. Much :Ir
tue Ies'Les in pride as we'll as in hu-
mility. The tendency to buy ease or
comfort or the qualification OF sense or
even the glow of moral expansion tina;
rewards deeds intrinsioally worthy, b.
tn exchange Of that independence
which alone entities man to walk up
right and feel hat earth beneath his