Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-05-24
1.-THE CORVALLIS GAZETTE.
FRIDAY, MAY "a, 1901.
MORAL ISSUES.

In every community there are
those who see, or think they see,
a moral issue involved in what
ever becomes a matter of public
concernment. 1t may be but the
selection Of a pound master, or
deciding whether or not certain
public improvements shall be TN
dertaken; these good people come
forward with their grave ques-
tions of morality and endeavor to
inject them, as it were, into what
is really only plain business
proposition, having no moral
aspect whatever. Oftentimes the
establishment Of public utilities
are frustated and men are chosen
to office for which they are wholly
unqualified, because of the blind,
unreasoning activity of a few i'm
practical ''reformers." That
these people are really sincere
and honest we may easily believe,
but the fact is that some by edu.
cation or lack of it, and others BY
chosen avocation, are unqualified
to exercise sound Judgment upon
questions which are purely
business propositions. 1t is a
pitiable spectacle when such men
are heard talking themselves
hoarse in endeavors to give a
moral Or immoral character to
things which plain, everyday,
sensible and practical citizens re-
gard as purely business matters.
The moral reformer is con-
tinually in error as to methods,
because he cannot or will not see
that the moral sentiment of nc
community can be impelled in
any direction. 1t is this senti-
ment which is the irnpelling and,
if necessary the compelling force.
Since the moral sentiment of q
community on any subject is the
consensus of opinion held by g
majority of the people co1npris.
ing the community, it should be
plain that it cannot be created by
the enactment of laws. It is q
growth from within, never from
without. 1t is the slow growth
of educational processes directed
upon the individual, not upor
the masses.
It is the experience everywhere
that laws enacted ahead of public
sentiment are imperative, be
canse there is no public senti
ment back of them compelling
their enforcement. In vain may
we enact the most righteous law
and select the best men to ad-
minister them; they will not b,
enforced unless clearly demandet
by public sentiment.
Our impractical reformers, too
must recognize that there ar,
scores of intelligent, upright anc
moral citizens who, for instance
are total abstainers, and wht
would firmly, yea gladly enforct
laws for the suppression and pun
ishment of vice and crime ane
the elimination of "the saloon in
fuence, yet who are not prohibi.
tionists. Other men there are
who are especially we'll qualified
to decide upon matters of com.
munity interest who even deny
the divinity of Christ. Why
may not the people select such
men for their servants without
the factious opposition of moral
theorists.
ALI worthy citizens are moral
and upright, and are teachers
and exemplars of morality.
Some are exclusively devoted
to teaching morality and
religion. Let all these unite in
developing and strengthening
public sentiment on lines of hon
est, virtuous citizenship. Whole
some laws will then become easy
of enactment and enforcement,
and public morality will become
asturdy, healthful, growing force
for good rather than a periodic
and spasrnodic manifestation of
theoretical moralities and pestif-
erous isms.