Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-30
CORRUPTION SHOWN IN REPORTS OF POSTAL INVESTIGATION

making certain changes in the meth
DDS of administration, notably in the
method of inspection, by which the
service will be improved and the
chance of corruption existing with
out discovery be minimized; but the
only way to meet the real evil is to
punish the offenders, by removal in
any event, ana where possible by
prosecution under the criminal stat
utes. In any great business, public
o" private, wrougdoing is certain ut
timcc to occur. The way to guard
against it is vigorously scruti,.ize tie
character of those appointed, carefully
to supervise their actions after ap-
pointmont, end finally, 20 punish with
relentless severely those who do
WI ong. All this is being done.
The immediate reformation of the
service by the turning out of the of
tenders is not in Itself to meet the dc
mands of justice. The cases against
those within and those without the
pOstotfice department, who by jheir
acts have brought themselves within
the grasp of the law, will be punish
ed with the utmost yigor. Every eff
fort must be made to see that both
the delinquent official and the out
slider who shares his guilt are punish
ed TO the limit of the law. In Pursu
ance of this policy the individuals
above enumerated have been indicted.
In no case has the Indictment been
sought save where the officials OF the
government were convinced of the
mans guilt; and in every case the
@ vernment will exhaust every eX-
pedient in its power in the effort to
see that justice is melted out to the
offenders. Those in the public serv-
ice whose duty it is must ever be vig-
liant in the detection of wrongdoing
fearless in its exposure, relentless in
its prosecution; but in the last re-
sort, when everything which the pub
lie official, whether legislator, judge,
or executive officer, can has been
from the people and representing the
done, it remains for the jury, drawn
people, to do even-handed justice,
shielding the innocent. but deciing to
be mislead by any plea into refrain
ing from punishment of the guilty.
No crime calls for sterner reproba-
ton than the crime of the corruption
list in public life. and the man who
seeks to corrupt him. The bride Civ
er and the bride 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 peo-
pie of this country are brought face
to face with question like this.
which lies at the root OF honest and
decent government. On this ques-
ton, and on all others like it, we can
good citizens. In the last resort good
laws and good administration alike
must rest upon the broad basis of
sound public opinion. \ duh public
conscience. an 'easy-going acquies-
cence in corruption. infallibly means
debasement in public life. and such
debasement in the end means the ruin
of free institutions. Self-government
becomes farce if the representatives
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 toll
crate dishonesty in their public ser
wants. Under our system all power
comes from the people, and all pun
ishment rests ultimately with the peo-
pie. The federation of the wrong. not
the exposure of the wrong. is the real
offense. THEODORE ROOSEVELT.