The Irish standard., 1903-11-21
THE PUBLIC CONSCIENCE.

1t must be admitted that President
Roosevelt has IL way of dressing up
homilics in such Il way as to com
mand more than passing attention.
His ,ightforward vigorous style
renders what he says interesting. His
plea for clean men in public life,
made ut the anniversary celebration
OF the church which Abraham Lin
coin used to attend, is but IL rcitcration
of what he and others have said on
many previous occasions. AS he sat
in the pew in which Lincoln wor-
shipped while in Washington, the
president was doubtless much inn
pressed by the associations Of the oc-
casiOn. Doubtless the contrast be-
tween the life and character of the
great Lincoln and the lives and char
acters of many men now in public
life aroused the president to his best
efforts. Perhaps he had in mind
many of the departments under his
own administration. IL so, it is no
wonder that he made an earnest ap-
peal for honesty in public life. There
is no place for difference of opinion
on this point. There is a sad need of
a quickened public conscience which
will demand the immediate punish
ment and downfall of anybody and
everybody connected with public
plumber. 1t is high time for the peo-
pie to demand higher standards from
their public servants. There has
been no time since the Star Route
scandals, when there was SO much
corruption in public life. No doubt
the president was much in earnest
when lie said:
And remember, you, the people of
this government by the people, that
willie the public servant, the legisla-
tor, the executive officer, the judge,
are not to be excused if they fall
short of their duty. yet that their do
ing their duty cannot avail unless you
y
to depend upon the jury drawn from
the people to convict the scoundrel
who has tainted our public life, and
unless that jury does it's duty, unless
it is backed by the public sentiment
of the people, all the work of legis-
lator, of executive officer, of judicial
rficop iu for no,1,r1,t
President RoOScvelts administra-
ton has been singularly marked by
public scandals Few will charge the
president with being responsible pr-
marily for this condition. 1t is the
result of Il dcadcncd public conscience.
Corruption in public life is Il growth.
1t nourishcs on conditions that are
produced by itself. II the party in
| power knew that the slightest di-
aressions in public life would surely
he resented by the people at the polls
there would be less corruption. There
is great need Of an awakening. y
little while ago Il congressman was
f! charged with defrauding the govern
, ment and escaped an Indictment and
: conviction only because the statute OF
/, limitations had run against his Of
! fense Now a United States senator
is under Indictment. There are sever.
, III department officials awaiting trial.
Almost every great city in the coun-
try has had in the last few years a
series of trials of public officials
charged with bribery and other of,
fenses against public and private hon
esty. The people are to blame fol
these conditions. We have but tc
refer to conditions in our own city
to place the blame where it belongs
Where grand juries and county attor
neys and courts are striving to dc