The Elbert County tribune., 1903-12-10

Announcement is made from the
War Department that no additional
designations Will be made of candi-
dates from civil life to be examined
for appointment as second lieutenant
in the army.
Rumors have reached the STATE De-
partment that General Reyes mission
to Washington is primarily to try to
array opposition senators against the
ratification of the Bunau-N arilla-H Hay
canal treaty. There is also talk OF the
formation of combination OF South
American countries, directed against
the United States. Respecting the
coming of General Reyes to Washing
ton, 1t is said at the State Depart
ment that much depends upon the ma
ture OF his credentials as to the re-
ception he Is given. II he Is brought
to the department by the Colombian
charge, DR.. Herran. he will be accord
ed respectful hearing. But his ac.
tivities must be confined to lawful
channels as an alien. and any attempt
on his part to influence by direct rep
reservations any other than the execu-
tive branch of the government would
scarcely be viewed with equanimity.
Horatio s. Rubens of New York, for
merly member of the Cuban Junta,
testified before the Senate committee
on military affairs. making statements
tending to corroborate the statements
made to the committee by Major Run
Gle in reference to the knowledge GEN
eral Wood is said to have had Of the
Runcie magazine article criticising un-
favorably the administration of Major
General Brooke as governor general of
Cuba. One of the most important
statement made by Mr.. Rubens was
that General Wood visited him after
the publication of the Runcie article.
and that their conversation showed
that General Wood had previous know
ledge of 1t. Mr. Rubens said that Cen
eral Wood admitted that he told Run
Gle that the article put him Wood in
an awkward position. Mr.. Rubens
also told the committee that when the
break occurred between Runcie and
General Wood he brought them to-
gether and tried to patch up their DIFF
ferences in a manner that would exon
crate kuncie of the onus attached to
his name by the report made to the
War Department by General Wood.
The witness also said that when Run
Gle wrote to General Wood begging
him to set Runcie right before the
country that Runcie showed him the
letter. He told the contents of the
letter to the committee and 1t sup
piled the missing link in the cores
pondence that had previously been filed
with the committee with the Rathbone
charges.
In his meorandum on the report of
First Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow. in relation to frauds in the
Postoffice Department. President
Roosevelt says: NO crime calls for
sterner reprobation than the crime of
the corruptionist in public life. and OF
the man who seeks to corrupt him.
The bribe giver and the bribe taker
are equally guilty. Both alike sin
against the primary law OF the states
safety. All questions of difference in
party policy sink into insignificance
when the people OF this country are
brought face to face with a question
like this. which lies at the root of
honest and decent government On
this question. and on all others like 1t,
we can afford to have no division
among good citizens. In the last re-
sort good laws and good administers
tion alike must rest upon the broad
basis OF sound public opinion. dull
public conscience, an easy-going ac-
| quiescence in corruption. infallfbly
means debasement in public life. and
such debasement in the end means
the ruin Of free institutions. Self.
government becomes a farce If the rep.
resentati-es OF the people corrupt
others or are themselves corrupted
Freedom is not a gift which will tarry
long in the hands Of the dishonest or
OF those so foolish or SO incompetent
as to tolerate dishonesty in their pub.
lie servants. Under our system ali
power comes from the people. and ali
punishment rests ultimately with the
people. The tolerance OF the wrong.
not the exposure of the wrong. il the
i real offense-s