The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-27

lIS " OIlu NoIh, LOT MdTfUb
Il in an article entitled "The House
of DO and the House of Don't"
appear two sentences which, II thor
oughly appreciated 10y the American
people, especially in their relations to
politics and government, would work "A
great change for the better. So valu-
able are these sentences as expressions
Of Fundamental truth that We copy
them below in black faced type:
"Most men cut a respectable figure
when they are earnestly doing some
thing, but few men appear to advan-
tage when they are telling how i'll
other men do things. Hedge it about
with whatever trappings you please,
depreciatory criticism is an ignoble
business"
For five years the people of Penn
sylvania have been deluged with de-
predatory criticism of their state OFF,
cals and of the policies of their state
government. They have been told by
a concert of subsidized newspapers and
by Il chorus OF pessimistic stump
speakers of every bad deed within the
range of truth and in addition they
have been fed to safety on eXaggera-
ton. nisstatement and wilful lies.
What is the result? The men who for
factional purposes set in motion these
mud batteries of calumniation and dis
honest criticism have not themselves
profited by the operation; they are far
ther removed from the realizat ton of
their political ambitions than they
ever were, besides being poorer in rep
utation and in pocket. Large numbers
Of citizens, honestly desirous for re-
form, have had their confidence shaken
in the use of that word as rallying
cry for political action. and are likely
10 throw up their hands and eschew
further participation in active politics.
And back of this all, those professional
regulars in politics who are not scrupu-
lous in the dedication of means to ends
have taken on new boldness in villainy
from the very fact that the hysterical
pitch of modern denunciatory criticism,
with which sensible people soon be-
come disgusted, serves to protect them
in their opportunities for public plum
der
The same principle is present in ma
tional affairs. a few years ago, to cite
just one instance, some of our far
seeing business men perceived the adj
vantases to be had by policy of com
blnations of capital doing away with
| wastefulness in competition and fdcili-
tating economic production. There fol-
| lowed an era of trusts, yet in its in.
| fancy; and at once the class of men
who prefer telling how i'll other men
| do things To doing things better them.
| selves, raised "a stop, thief" howl that
was not limited to intelligent criticism
of specific abuses in the concentration
programme or to a thoughtful demand
for legislative restrictions and safe,
guards, it was more like a wild dervlsl
war dance or the hysteria of maniac.
at an asylum fire. Every capitals
was forthwith branded as a minon %
monopoly and a highway robber; anC
every enterprise was placarded as al
octopus" The result of it was tina
the public patience was strained and IL
its reaction against this Populstic de
bauch 1t is just possible that pub
lie opinion may in some degree, more
at least, than II intended, be playinj
into the hands of those financiers VIII
are not always actuated by honest,
in their tormulations OF great enter
prise.
Locally this spirit of shrleking dc
nunciation of every person who cXer
cises his liberty of differing from III
mob has shown itself on Il number q
occasions which the recording angt
will view with sadness If not wit
tears-very notably SO during the re
cent street car strike, when our Who'll
city was virtually given over to an
archy so far as anarchy wanted {
have Its boisterous way; and whel
with the tacit acquiescence of the on
GERS of the law, fragrant disrespeC
was shown for property rights an
even persons were endangered. Th
! spirit of captiousness among SON
of our workers, as shown in strikes O
the smallest of provocations, Is simila
p in kind and will have the result, if Ion
continued, to arrest the developmer
} of our city, drive away industries no
! located here, whose coming represen
ed years OF negotiation and effort Q
I the part of our board of trade, an
! make doubtful the securing of ne
ones.
: Criticism has valuable pla,
r | among the forces which make for PR