The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-10
THE MAN AND THE OFFICE.
(The Christian SUM-

(The Christian SUM-
Every citizen about to vote for a can
didate for any office has the right to en-
quire. Is this candidate a clean man?
What of his personal character? AS a
citizen, bound by certain moral oblga-
tons, how does he carry himself? These
are questions which every man about to
vote has the absolute and legitimate right
to put and to demand answer thereto
man who is. morally speaking, i'm
pure and unclean cannot be officially pure
ard clean. His personal character viii
certainly find expression in his official con-
duct. Character is no convenient garb
to be laid aside at will Out of the char
fountain flows the stream. And no foun-
tain sends forth fresh water and salt We
repeat what we have so often said in
these columns, that the reason why we
have so much corruption in office is be-
cause we put corrupt men in office The
reason why we have so many weak and
dishonest laws is because we elect weak
and dishonest men to make and to execute
them. Do you expect men who sell and
buy and make and drink liquor TO make
anti-liquor laws? Might as well
expect the moon and the stars to shine
at noon-day when the SUM- that stronger
i and mightier planet holds full sway We
are glad that this fundamental PROPOSE
! ton is coming to be understood among
| Us. 1t is ground upon which all can meet
and shake hands. 1t was not always so.
| We are coming more and more to recog-
nize the principle that public official
who asks our suffrage shall also as a prl-
vate citizen have Il character that will
command our respect. II a mans private
life is not worthy of your respect his pub
lie life will hardly be worthy of your suf-
frage.
We confess that, the other day when
North Cardinals most popular and widely
read political paper, The News and OBJ
server came out in a leading editorial
ringing true and clear on this line. our
heart felt glad. At this TIME when there
is so much talk of candidates for office
the words of Editor Daniels ought to be
read and pondered by every citizen OF
a paragraph, space forbidding to quote
more:
mo man Of bad private character ever
yet made a faithful public official. He
may do well for time, he may have good
intentions, but in crisis he always falls
down. Conscience makes towards of us
all. To every man in public life there
comes a time when he needs to summons
all his courage and manhood to fight the
agencies of evil. When this crisis comes,
the man of clean life stands as firm az
the rock In such an emergency, the
powers that make for wrong know the
weak place in the armor of the man whose
life is unclean. They let him know that
if he strikes down their graft or their
privilege, they will expose his life to the
public gaze. Though meaning to serve
the people well and honestly, his own
weakness destroys his good purpose and
he Is as putty in the hands OF the men
whose wrong-doing he has sworn to up
root.
''The sentiment is growing, steadily and
gratifyingly, that men asking TO be lead
ers in public affairs must do more than
possess abInty. They must be men who
keep their bodies free from pollution, who
keep their hearts clean, and be examples
of right living. This is no demand for
saints or perfect men, but 1t is demand
for men of moral stamina, men OF char
aoter, men who will not lower the stand
ard of public and private morals.
mo man can be trusted in a crisis In
public affairs whose private HE cannot
stand the calcium light.