Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-05-11
AMERICAN SOCIETY.
McKnleys Pastor on the Subject Of Its
Claimed Deseneracy.

Nso""Su OSSehetdSy'
iRev. DIR. F. VI. Bristol in New York World.
protest against the application of
the term society" to that little set
of little fools who contribute nothing
but scandal to the annals OF u COM
munity. The true society of America,
composed of the brains and virtue of
her typical men and women, to be
found in Washington, New York,
Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia, Chi
cago and in every city and town and
village of this country is worthy of all
honor and respect. Husbands never
had more virtuous wives nor wives
truer husbands; sons never had
sweeter, purer mothers, nor mothers
nobler, cleaner sons; brothers never
had more chaste intelligent sisters, nor
sisters more heroic, chivalrous, high
minded brothers than they have to-
day and in our own America.
Democracy is conductive to virtue.
The most corrupt, licentious social
conditions are found where class dis
tinctions prevail, equality is denied
and woman is robbed of her right, her
freedom and her independence. The
morally healthy condition of Ameri-
can society is due TO the freedom, in
telligence and exalted character OF
American womanhood. And that
womanhood, claim, is the highest,
purest type that has yet appeared in
the evolution Of society. In contrast
with the American society let the
pessimist study Athenian society in
the days of Aspasia, Roman society in
the time Of Cleopatra, French society
in the days of Recamier and Main.
tenon, English society in the reign OF
Elizabeth or Charles II, or the
Georges. What encouraging progress
has been made in the moral senti-
ments and standards of society since
the American revolution gave aristo-
cracy anil sovereignty to the common
people! The virtue and honor of this
world are in the common people.
Who determine the character of SO.
ciety? No mere four hundred shall
low Drained coterie or any one COM
munity who are living on the sweat Of
their fathers or grandfathers' faces !;
not the men and women, so-called,
who can shamelessly sit together
through a performance of "Sapho"
or "The Degenerates," presented by
actors and actresses who are vainly
trying to secure virtuous reputation
by breaking into American society
not the nameless few silly things who
sell themselves and their fathers for.
tunes to foreign degenerates for titles
which our virile, high.minded young
Americans would not wipe their feet
on. Not these, but rather the noble
rank and file of manhood and woman
hood, where you find the ideal fathers
and mothers, husbands and wives
brothers and sisters, who by their
honest hearts and brains and hands
are creating the moral and material
greatness of our free and Christian
Americanism.
lam bound to say that the highest
standard of American society may be
found at the national capital. The
social atmosphere OF Washington is
sweet and wholesome. 1t was never
more so. No social scandals tarnish
the purity of our official or congres
sional life. Finer specimens of moral
intellectual and patriotic womanhood
cannot be found in this country or in
the world than are to be met at the
social functions OF the beautiful capi.
tai, where the best traditions of re.
publican purity and democratic sim
plicity are preserved and exemplitiej
in the domestic virtue, affection and
happiness of the first home of the
land.
Surely the American people may
Justly felicitate themselves on the
high and unsullied record of that first
home of the land from the gloriou.
day of Martha Washington to tht
good and happy day of Ida Mckinley.