Evening journal., 1903-03-21
Honesty the Paramount Issue,
Declares an Outlook Article

ItNucllon arc ulSlnVtlN party policies.
there is no shadow Of a question that
they would be OVERWHELMINGLY sup
ported at the polls by the Republican
party IN a general election. But the
appeals OF the President and the opin-
ions of the people are unheedcd by
men 10 whom the supposed pccuniary
interest OF a few beet sugar growers
and a few tobacco growers overbal-
ancc an other considerations. II may
take time and patience 20 convince an
honest man OF the truth; but even in
Vincihle Ignorance will yield az last to
argument. IL the Ignorance is
honest and the argument enlightening.
But time and patience are wasted on
men who are corrupt and corrupters OF
their fellows The only argument that
weighs with n bribe-ta taker is a bigger
bribe. Allow public corruption to go
on unhalted. uncondemned. unpublished
and elections will cease 10 be discuss
sions OF principles: they will become
auction sales. in which minority,
holding the balance OF power will sell
the power which they WELD to the
highest bidder.
He has read TO little purpose the
histories OF Greece. and Rome, and
Venice, and Bourbon. France, and
England. who does not see that the
issue OF honest government is the para
mount issue. whenever and however 1t
presents itself. For II was because
corruption conquered in Greece and
Rome, and Neniee,and Bourbon France
that they all died; and because the
corruption of England under the
Georges was conquered by the Puritans
conscience OF her people that England
lives. He has read to little purpose
the history OF the past decade who
does not see that this plague of the ma
tions Is in our blood. The corruption
revealed I'm New York city. i'm Minne-
apolis, in st. Louis. In Chicago. the
corruption in Montana and Delaware
/ Is patent, obvious. unconcealed; but
these cases are not sporadic. How long
must we wait before We begin our
fight in dead earnest against the blood
poisoning which is more fatal than the
lmost fatuous OF public policies-be
they what they may? Jethro's counsel
to Moses, old as it is, the world has not
loutgrown; il is timely now: "Thou
shalt provide out of all the people able
men, such as fear God. men OF truth.
} hating covetousness." Not merely men
who are honest. but men who are ag-
gressively honest; who hate coveteous-
ness; who dare risk. not their own po-
litical fortunes merely, but those OF
their party. rather than fight their bat
! ties with hired Hessians. Men who
= strike with a strong hate and pierce
with a fine scorn the bribe-taker and
2 the bribegiver, whether the bribe be q
, commercial advantage in the market
an official emolument in politics. or q
roll OF national bank notes at the
. polls.
, To get such men as this to act foi
I ] us In our public life. city. State ant
Il Nation, this is the paramount issue. /
s Is because the American people be
y lieved that they had IN Mr.. Roosevelt
Z such man that he has aroused an en-
I, thusiasm greater than that aroused b,
Il lany President since Abraham Lincoln
e Any act of his that casts a shadow o
h suspicion on his recognition of tn
n principle that public honesty IL tn
4. paramount issue chills that enthusiasm
n and robs him of his power. Those VIII
e love and honor him the most feel mos
deeply any acts which makes possibl
J. such a suspicion. Hating covetous
* ness" is a spirit hard to maintain i
a the malarial atmosphere OF Washing
III Will HhA AHt iiAt VI lit 4NdAlol QtItnN
r. upon maintaining il. Principles, no
l. men" is the DEVILS motto. Principle
d are absolutely useless except as the
r are incarnate in men. Men are wors
n. than useless except az they incarnat
ls principles. Principles In men, mon
ar principles--this is the absolute condl
l. tion. not only of National strength an
is National prosperity, but OF Nationi
m existence. 1t were better TO adopt FIRE
ne trade and shut down half our factorit
Or and free silver and close half OF
l- banks, provided we still kept homes
n. than TO purchase a short-lived con
" mercial prosperity by condoning or Is
he noring or being Indifferent to n
or crimes against the State OF a Croke
ne in New York, an Ames in Minneapoli
8: n Butler in st. Louis, n Clark in MOI
in ltana, or an AddiclSs. in Delaware