New-York tribune., 1901-09-21
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GOOD.

In this time of national humiliation and sor
row we are all as a people coming TO take
more serious view of our obligations and of the
force of our example From one end of the
country TO the other men have contemplated
the tragic murder of their President and have
humbly confessed that they We're not without
blame for the conditions which prepared the
way for that crime. 1t is n period of self
examination out of which should come saner
and better public opinion. greater moderation
and charity, and strong determination among
individuals to be more careful about giving
encouragement to evil passions in any form.
At the memorial service I'm the crypt Of the
Cathedral of St John the Divine Bishop Potter
in closing his address gave expression to one
phase Of this feeling in these words:
Men and brethren, in this solemn moment we
should remember that we cannot have the free
dom of republic without the responsibilities
of a republic. We must have great system OF
free education, a system that will reach and
enlighten the perverted minds of all such per-
sons of whatever age. so as to give them a true
comprehension OF the principles underlying our
government. And we must represent in our
lives an example of sincere manhood and
lightened citizenship, and refrain from sinking
into lying pharisaism, which while ready TO
denounce the wrong, Will not lift It's smallest
finger to remove il and its causes
That exactly hits the point The prevailing
called. is only form, is due less to the igno-
rant and recognized criminal classes than TO
those who know better things and mean better
things but are in act tolerant Of the evils they
deplore in words Much Is heard about the
lynching evil. but few of the communities which
deplore its prevalence among them ready to
take effective measures TO put II down. The
pervasive corruption and lawlessness of this
citys government is a matter of universal belief,
but how small a proportion of those who talk
about those wrongs will really lift finger to
remove them or their causes, Most men seem
to think 1t sufficient TO lay the blame off on the
ignorant and vicious, forgetful that by indffer-
ence they permit the ignorant and vicious to
look upon that sort Of government as the normal
type.
Our bishops and teachers and other persons of
taste have for years been telling the people that
our publications which dealt in reckless sensa-
tionalisnl and famed class hatred were public
danger and disgrace, and that their popularity
was sign Of a vulgarized populace. Yet we
have seen that populace advised that in just
such vehicles of decentralization, in which anar
chists are advised not to waste their time on
kings while trust magnates exist, can be found
helpful discussions of the labor problem Bishop
Potter's exbortation should have great influence
on such careless leading of the ignorant within
the power of incendiary teachers. President
Hadleys advice for honest to refuse to
have relations with persons, no matter how
powerful, who were known TO be forces Of cor
ruption is well remembered. 1t was perhaps an
extreme view of individual responsibility and
individual power. Nevertheless. its acceptance
to the extent Of refusing to assist the spread Of
such corruption might be expected from men Of
his class, and yet the ignorant populace. to
whom, as Bishop Potter says, we must give a
true understanding Of our institutions, have
seen the president OF one of our great universi-
ties ignoring President Hadley's teaching and
allowing himself and his views to be introduced
! to them by q preacher Of revolution and class