The Nome nugget., 1902-01-08
CORRUPTION, POLITICAL AND OFFICIAL.

VOKNUF HUN, pVllIsCAL AVU CffttsAl.
 During the progress of the late investigation into the charges of misconduct and corruption made against Chief of Police Joiey, we refrained from making any extended criticism, believing that when a is on trial criticism is invidious. Now, how ever that the investigation has ended, it may not be amiss to indulge in few remarks chiefly directed belief that all nearly all American officials corrupt and unreliable that influences other than duty under the law be effective used upon those who administer our government. he charge of cor ruption in political life, indulged in by many would-be reformers and people generally, is made so often in season and out of season. that many good citizens adopt the assertion true without making any investigation whatever. To believe that every official is corrupt and that all politicians are dis honest Is to brand the majority of the people with the same mark. And we know that ma ority of the American people are honest; and we believe the sane of the officials That there is percentage of men in official place and power whose rules of conduct are guided solely by motives of gain and self-aggrandizt- ment cannot be doubted. But it is always notice able that the official careers of men of this are brief and disaster sooner later overtakrs them, and ninety times out of d hundred their final exit from this shifting call fife is in shame and oboquy.
 The political machine that hideous monster which has been fastened on the politics of the United States IS responsible for ths of the corruption that exists in official places As have stated the great plain people" of this republic honest; but the few, sharp, schrming conscienceless rickterS, that they are, have been able to set up the iggt, -ihe political niachine-and trample under its wheels all who dared to stay its progress Then with the triumph of the mach ne, the man with q pull " has been given place of profit and emou. nent; that his methods were honorable or his con- duct seemly does not enter into the
 The spread of education and the increased intel ligence of our citizenship may be depended upon to stamp out official corruption of all kinds The influences will be brought to bear upon the political machine" ard it is entirely safe to predict that its days numbered With the spread of intelligence and correct habits of thought and doing, men will no longer be controlled by brutal, vena and very often densely ignorant "poically bosses" Indeed politics have grown vastly purer within the last decade Men no longer be driven to the polling booth and voted " like SO many dumb driven cattle. They inquirng into the reason of things for themselves.
 Now we are not looking for the millennium, political or otherwise We know that so long as life has passions mankind will have woes and among these will be quota of terAiver ating itching palms which infct themselves upon the body polite for a season. but their end is in sight
 high standard of efficiency and honesty is gradually beng established in American official life The time has nearly passed when appointments to positions, high or low, will be given reward for political services, matter what may be the moral caliher of the These reforms are coming fast
 the days of the triumph of the spoilsman are nearly numbered.
 As for the result of the investigation referred to in the opening sentence of this article, hut cur in the result If there has been corruption practiced in the management of the police depart ment, sufficient evidence not could not be -adduced to demonstrate 1t. As rule. most of the statements made as to corruption in office may be taken with grain of allowance. The very best men and women don't throw stones indiscriminatelv. We believe in reforming apparent evils. but it is not wise to prohibit the eating of apples because you have eaten sour it gave you cramps; neither is it wise to discred officials attempt to destroy political parties because vour teachings have been adopted sand yoar statue does not appear in the rotunda of the Capitol.
 The NUGGET will at establish a bureau at Council City, from whence its subscribers in that and he adia acent ntrv will ba Ths