Evening journal., 1901-12-26
A GnrAr MonK nEGuN

a GREAT WORK BEGUN
The trial of John Lynnshaving ended
in his sentence to pay a fine of $4,000
and to serve one years Imprisonment
in the workhouse. the question is be-
ing asked: what nextg There is a great
deal of work ahead of the Attorney
General and the Citizens Committee,
and. if we mistake not, this first con-
viction will insure a continuance Of
their efforts till the whole system of
our county and municipal governments
has been purged. This is the demand
of all public-spirited citizens and we
believe they viii give their aid and en-
couragement to Mr. Ward and to the
organization which is doing all in its
power to assist him.
This investigation must go on, for
the reason that IL is as important to
let the public know the officers of our
government who are doing their duty
as to bring to justice those who have
used their places for their own per-
sonal benefit The first man convicted
happens to be a Republican, and a
Democrat rests under indictment
awaiting trial. But these offenses are
not partisan, and have nothing to do
with politics. When a public official
commits an offense against the law, he
Injuries and insults the party which
honored him with It's support In all
fairness it should be stated that the
vast majority of Republican electors,
in casting their votes for candidates of
their party expect them to be true to
their trusts and to reflect credit upon
the party. Exactly the same thing is
true of Democracy; and, therefore, un-
der ordinary circumstances, a betrayal
of a public trust is a betrayal of the
party confidence
In these matters IL is well to insist
that the responsibility shall be placed
where it belongs, and II would be we'll
If when a man enters an Office the
public should cease to regard him pri-
marily as a party man. and hencefor-
ward regard him simply as a public
officer. The man and not The party, is
primarily responsible for any betrayal
of public confidence. The courts dc
not try offenders as Catholics, Protes-
tants or Jews; not as Republicans
Democrats or Populists, but as men
and as\such. responsible to the COM
munity for their acts.
Frequently in the government of ouI
cities and States. through a course OF
years, a system tainted with fraud
grows up, and when men are elected tc
Office they take advantage of the sys-
TEN. regardless of the party which
elected them. or Of the politics of theil
predecessors. Any violation or distor
tion of the law is excused on the
ground that those of an opposite po
litical faith have taken advantage of it
and that what is fair for one is fail
for the other And it is surprising
how many men will take this view o
ii. Politicians will oftenumes excuse
public looting if a part OF the spoili
goes into the party treasury. An,
private individuals express the wisl
that their friends in Office may get al
that there is in it, SO the system
grows and fourishes until the tax rate
which has steadily increased, begins 4
pinch. and it is found that the city o
county is covered by an enormou
debt
1t is regarded as our duty not to pu
too great temptations in the way O
children or servants; they should b
surrounded as far as possible wit
conditions which practically preclud
dishonesty. for many a person unde
favorable opportunity develops into
thief. who under other circumstance
might have been a man Of probity. w
need TO protect men from themselve
and this applies to public life, as
does to private business. Il will
fortunate. then, for all concerned
the reform movement in this city sha
continue until We snail know VINO M
done his duty, and who has not, an
until every position of trust will be
open to the public gaze that officia
will perform their duties as a matt
Of course. In brief. the purging of
single office is an incident; the syste
as a whole is what requires attention
II in the prosecution of this work
reform. individuals are implicate
each must be made to suffer the cons
Quences OF his act It may be o
friend who has fallen into the mesh
Of the law. but that must not hind
Justice There is no other way than
punish those. whoever they may
who have violated the law. Punis