The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-30


This recommendation has been laid be-
fore the congress in the report of the
attorney general, and it is earnestly
hoped that it viii be acted upon favor
ably. Moreover, our experience shows
that outsiders claiming political infu-
ence sometimes sell their influence to
candidates for Office or in other words
blackmail these candidates. There
should be legislation which will per-
nit Of summary dealing with such
Offenders.
However, the prime need is not new
legislation but the punishment of those
who offend against existing laws The
postoffice department is making certain
changes in the methods of administra-
ton, notably in the method of inspec-
ton, by which the service will be i'm
proved and the chance of corruption ex-
listing without discovery be minimized;
but the only way to meet the real evil
is to punish the offenders, by removal
in any event. and where possible by
prosecution under the criminal statutes
In any great business, public or private.
wrongdoing is certain a t times to occur.
The way to guard against it is rigorous
~ to scTutinize the character of those
appointed, carefully to supervise their
actions after appointment and finally
to punish with relentless severity those
who go wrong. All this is being done
The immediate reformation of the
service by the turning out of the often
ders is not in itself enough to meet the
demands of justice. The cases against
both those within and those without the
pOston1ee department, who by their
acts have brought themselves within
the grasp of the law, will be pushed
with the utmost vigOr Every effort
must be made to see that both the de-
Inquent official and the outsider who
shares his guilt are punished to the
limit of the law. In pursuance
Of this policy the individuals
above enumerated have been in
dicted. 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 gov
eminent will exhaust every expedient
in its power in the effort to see that
justice is melted out to the Offenders
Those in the public service whose duty
IL is must ever be Vigilant in the detec-
ton of wrongdoing, fearless in it's ex-
posture, relentless in its prosecution; but
in the last resort, when everything
which the public official, whether legis-
lator, judge. or executive officer, can do
has been done, it remains for the jury,
drawn from the people and represent
ing the people, to do even-handed JUS
Ece, shielding the innocent, but declining
to be misled by any plea into refraining
from punishment of the guilty.
No crime calls for sterner repro
bation than the crime of the corruption
ist in public life, and of the man who
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 in
significance 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 resort
good and good administration alike
must rest upon the broad basis of sound
public opinion. A dull public con-
science, an easy-going acquiescence in
corruption, infallibly means debasement
in public life, and such debasement in
the end means the ruin of free institu-
tions. lf-government- becomes a farce
If the representatives of the people cor
rupt 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 public SER
wants. Under our system all power
comes from the people, and all punish
ment rests ultimately with the people.
The liberation Of the wrong, not the e11-
posture of the wrong, is the real offense.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.