Evening journal., 1903-09-14
DEGRADING IDEALS.

DEGRADING IDEALS.
The saddcst thing that we can con-
template in life Is the loss OF our ideals
as we pass from youth 10 old age. The
parent grieves 10 think OF the time
when his child shall become sophiati-
Gated. his innocence displaced with
knowledge often repuIsive TO that de-
greo wherein u is accurate. II Is said
that men are naturally honest and
truthful. A lie does not come natur-
ally from the lips Of children and men
steal only whom thieving is made at
ractive.
II this is true the world owes It 20
The generation which is gradually TAX
ng the place OF that which at present
.ontrols affairs 10 maintain at oil
costs its ideals; and to do this they
must be substantiated by realities. We
are not profoundly concerned with the
act Of some repulsive rascal whose ok
ample has no force because It is not at
tractlve. But when a man who Is hon-
ored and respected. and who is much
before the public eye. makes a csr-
tain success out OF shrewd business
transactions. which n they were prop
erly named would be called stealing,
tho example Is dangerous,
It is for this reason that political
rascality IL particularly dangerous,
The man who raises himself from OBJ
scurity by tricks, deception and brib-
cry. sets an example which hundreds
win follow. whether they win the same
measure Of success he does or not.
When there are so many mon OF this
sort that a system 10 created. tho
whole moral tone OF community Is
lowered. and men come to measure vir-
tue by necessity, apd TO justify any
crime that has attained some desired
end
We say with regret, and we think
with truth. that tho ideals OF the peo-
pie or Delaware particularly as they
relate to politics. were never at sc
low an ebb as now. II is impossible tc
argue with men on the basis OF the
ordinarily accepted principles OF right
and wrong, A party is in measure
yuccessful simply because Il has had
vast corruption fund. Everybody
Knows 1t. but the answer Is that cor
euptlon IS a necessary incident Of poll
ucsi and members Of Christian
churches say. "Too hadl Too badl"
and then seek to profit by the system.
How does this affect the young man
who Is just starting on a career7 He
wants TO succeed. and he follows the
example Of others who have won what
the world calls success. He knows
that frequently the ideal that our on
GERS are chosen by the unbiased will OF
the whole people. and that they are
guilty Of no wrong because Il oannoi
be proved ga court. is a Notion. A q
matter OF fact there is species o.
wrong doing in public life to which tn,
world shuts It's eyes; and our younl
men learn TO wink and say; "oet there
but keep out Of prison" II a mlHsteT
Is made so that the law comes as al
avenger, then the victim Is condemned
not because Of his wrong-dolng. bu
because he ia bunsler.
Then when the national party or "a
representatives offers its rewards I,
the successful highwayman. putting
premium on that success which hai
really been gained at the expense o
the masses, how the public IDEAL
tumble. ana how rampant pesslmlsn
and oynieism become! ASK the aver
age young man what no thinks OF poll
tics and OF public life today. /and h
viii draw you a picture that IL staru
ing in its degradation and accuracy
Suppose then he desires to enter poll
tics. since he does not wish TO be
failure and 10 waste his EFFORTS h
win probably adopt the methods h
finds, with certain improvements {
his own.
It is for these reasons that ever
man in a public place has vast re
rponsibiiity. and IL is for this rea
son that we need men who are actu
ally and not verbally strong. The high
er the ofice the greater the respor
sibility. Il Is pitlable 10 see a cabin,
ofiicer acting the part OF spoilsma
or the agent Of spoilsmen. The e,
ample emphasizes anew the impor
ance and necessity OF the system an
creates In every part OF the countl
spoilsmen actual or potential. Thel
truths are not new, but they appei
now because they are expressed
seldom. Because they represent a
actual condition. we need more prat
ice and less preaching.