The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-16
Lest We Forget.


The financial bin, the Puerto Rico de-
bate, the Hay-Pauncefote treaty and
| the Beers should not distract the at
tention Of the United States senate from
a duty resting upon II which none other
can surpass in gravity. The long and
disgusting investigation Of political
methods In Montana and the use Of
money TO obtain political preferment
has come to an end. What Of the YER
dict that is to be rendered.
We risk nothing in saying that the
people Of this country are more deeply.
more vitality. more ~passionately interest
ed In the action that will be taken than
they are In any issue of party politics.
In any economic controversy. in any
high policies Of state. For this is run
damentai and imperative. IL touches
the purity Of Individual character. II
reaches beyond that, until we see forked
l%igftnings play above the dome OF the
capitol and feel the first BOOKINGS of
the earthquake hat may some day
shake its foundations. Are we to have
a government by popular choice through
men selected for qualities that At them
for office. or are our high places TO be
polluted by the boodler and made the
common prey Of vulgar moneyed ambi-
ton?
This question contains all that there
IL of n in the term "plutocracy."
The piutocrat. so-called, is ordinarily a
harmless sort Of creature. and the peo-
pie a short work OF him when he
swells into too comfortable an opinion
OF himself. OF the "plutocrat' in bus
mess the laws Of business as we'll as
the laws Of the nation and OF our COM
monwealths will take care. But II his
hands are laid upon the ark Of the gov
itself. then all things are in
peril.
The man who seeks TO buy his way
10 office IL the COMMON enemy OF man
kind. Against him every hand should
be raised. He is the real traitor not
only TO his country. but to free insti-
buttons. to human liberty. to the indie
| %pendence and the worth OF man. Let
us track him 90 his lair. Let us follow
his shiny trail whenever and wherever
we happen upon " until we have found
and reckoned with the demonic forces
OF the pit wherein he lies.
This man is a corrupter OF the people.
He spreads the net OF his temptation ev-
erywhere. He assails honor and trafics
in self-respeet. It Is nothing to him
that men go down 20 their graves In
infamy and stand before their Maker in
the agony of the lost. so that their pur-
chased souls are stepping stones 10
his ambition. II Is nothing 90 him
that the halls Of legislation and the
polling booths OF the people should be
dehased 70 the level Of the places OF
Death where womanhood Is sold. II IS
nothing to him tina, all for which our
heroe. fought and our fathers toilei
should be no better h a shop Of
1 ANNAA~ Nbfu fAfNENbA IllSts It II Tue per
s%onlacation in modern political rfe 70
all those abhorren, forces In the uni
verse that are united in the legend ~
a Father Of Evil
Beoause this man walks among US
everywhere disguised as liberal citizen.
good father. generous friend. Il be
comes US 60 beware lest We FORGET that
he carries within him ali potency Of
destruction for man and for the state
You cannot debauch the individual and
leave the community strong n with
gu, reprcach You eanno, invade the
temple OF the isVs and keep the saAles
~ Justice on their even balance You
cannot hribe men n lay claim TO pre-
fermeht or indulgence or moderate
Judgment or forgiveness In a state IL
independent freeaaCn this Ia the uupar-
eonable ain. Against mankind strdE-
sling 10 be honest. o. b. true. e. serve
ideals. 70 Is the murierous thrust q the
poisoned dagger The American people
must rise against this looming phantom
Of dlshonor everywhere. must strike az
~ in the little M the great. must vim
dictate their sgliied honor and put the
oence-buycr beyond an place for pardon
" they would - true 70 themselves.
their brothers. their country or their
God
The distinctly literary man Is seldom
= good critic ~ pou,ic. HIS standards.
like those 81 tho clergyman. ara abso-
ht,e. They ofsr no room for the play