The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-20
pose Of the performance was to reform the politics,
habits and practices of the audience to earn the
considerable stipend paid by the management Of the
circuit
circuit
TYRANNY OF CRIME.

If we would reform the public service In fact as
well as in plausible theory; IL We would make good
government In Federal, State and municipal depart
ments; II we would maintain universal good govern
ment; II we would aid moral progress in public affairs;
II we would substitute method, order and good men
for chaos crime and criminals, our impulses must
be stirred into deeds by the recollection that
citizen rich or humble is responsible for the COM
| mon welfare The individuals composing the aggre-
gate voting strength are bound by obligations of
science and their natural duty toward another to
cause the enactment of proper laws and to compel
their enforcement.
Crime in public Office is double crime. 1t is tyr
amy and treas0n. 1t is crime Of tyranny and trea-
son for the author crime Of tyranny and treason
for the instigaor and crime Of tyranny and treason
for all persons who accessory to Its performance
The public official who deliberately and fagranty
violates his duty traitor to his trust the instiga
tors and accessories traitors to their suffrage
They are all tyrans in that by their crimes they OPP
press the government and the people,
AbsOlutism Is Chased as tyranny, being the ex-
treme despotfsm of supreme authority. Taxation
without representation is tyranny was the tnspira-
ton that accomplished American independence But
the despotism of democracy. which may become ex-
treme to absolutism is the tyranny of license in offices
of public trust Absoutism is the tyranny of military
power; crime in public offices is the tyranny of fraud
established and open tyranny; or the despotism ac-
complshed by illicit acts under the mantle Of democ-
racy through treason to country State or city? The
one is tyranny without representation; the other is
tyranny through representation. Tyranny without
representation in absolute government, is pain,
frank tyranny; tyranny through representation is the
tyranny of deceit and theft
Valuable franchises are granted under liberal con-
ditions to private corporations. The privileges be
slowed are larger and more valuable than the voters
would allow and the remuneration to the public cor
poraton is relatively insignificant. The legislators
are paid, personally, for granting the franchises.
There is the treason. The insufficient compensation
increases the peoples burden of taxation and the lack
OF protective provisions in the special law makes the
public subject to private domination There is the
tyranny.
The voters Of to-day, in every city and State must
realize that the tyranny and treason of peace can be-
than the tyranny and treason Of war; that
the perpetrators Of crime in offices of public trust are
the dspos of democracy the foes of society and The
desroyers of government Benedict Arnold was more
loyal to the colonies though he traitor than the
criminals in public office, who tyrants as well as
traitors, are loyal to- republicanism.
Love OF country, State and city, respect for princ
pie and public morals; detestaton OF treason and tyr
amy and the aspiration of freedom toward progress
are the motives which alone can effect a radical
change in the public service. And these motives
must not only be felt but acted at the polls The
citizen who negects to vote at all elections although
approaching his Individual duty citizen, helps
to make crime In public Office virtue, gives honor
to treason and pays tribute to tyranny
L