Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-06-15
GOVERNOR
ADDRESSED
UNIVERSITY
Spoke of the Duties of Pub1ic Official
Pointed Out Reasons for
Dishonesty

stitutional arguments are heard In
deposition to all such legislation
Then there is the measure for the
stricter supervision of this corpora
tion and of that, and invariably the
effect is to make great constitutional
lawyers of men who never read a
constitution and never will. 1t is the
selfish interest that espouses a bill
on the one hand, or opposes it on the
other. The prominent business man
the bribe-gver to buy legislation
or to defeat it.
Then, too, passivity of public
opinion in matters of official irregu-
larity is a third element of RESPONSE
bility for laxity of public morals. 1t
it not uncommon to hear a man of
undoubted honesty and integrity say
of another who is known to be loot
er of the public treasury, "Well, II
he did not betray his trust and rob
the public, someone else would" So
long as the rogue is a successful one.
so long as he can keep within the
law, or rather out of the fashlight of
public opinion, he does not fare so
badly with many respectable men in
the community.
The young boy leaves the farm for
the city. He sees men high in pub
lie places guilty of peculation who
are nevertheless tolerated and re-
spected. This respect, this federation
he takes for approval of their course,
and gradually he falls into the same
unhealthy habit of winging at crime
in high places,
Then, again. party spirit is par
TALLY responsible for laxity in public
morals. Washington realized the
dangers to be apprehended from the
Intensity of party spirit in Demo
cratic form of government. In his
farewell address to his countrymen
which for patriotism is only eQualled
by the Declaration of independence
and for prophetic craftsmanship
stands unriveled in the political his.
tory of our country, said: There
is an opinion that parties in free
countries are useful checks upon the
administration of the government, and
serve to keep alive the spirit of lib.
erty. This within certain limits is
probably true; and in governments
of a monarchial cast patriotism may
look with indulgence, If not with ia
vor, puon the spirit of party But
in those of the popular character, in
governments purely elective it is a
spirit not to be encouraged. From
their natural tendency it is certain
there will always be enough of that
spirit for every salutary purposeS and
there being constant danger of ex.
cess, the effort ought to be by force
of public opinion to mitigate and as
suage it, A fire not to be quenched,
| II demands a uniform vigilance to
prevent it's bursting into a flame, lest
instead of warning, 1t should con.
sumo"
More than once since these lines
were penned party spirit has come
dangerously near undermining the
foundation upon which our govern
mental structure rests. 1t was that
spirit which precluded settlement
of those issues which precipitated
the war Of the rebellion, and 1t was
the same spirit which came near
preventing q settlement of the presi.
dental contest of 1876. Men wholly
untitled for positions of public trust
are frequently nominated by party
conventions in full reliance that ma
jorities, animated by party zeal and
intense partisanship will pull them
through to victory, while on the other
hand men who are eminently qualified
by birth, education and training for
positions of responsibility in every
/ hAohNA VI buS phbiAN oNANlNt ltluoO
to submit their names for the sur.
frages of their fellow citizens, know.
ing full we'll that even against un-
worthy opponents there is naught in
store but yillification and abuse from
the pulpit, the hustings and a parti-
san press. This blind party spirit is
truly not spirit TO be encouraged,
and the effort should be by force OF
public opinion to mitigate and as.
suage IT, 1t is truly spirit which is
largely responsible for laxity in pub
lie morals.
Upon the young men and women
whom this great institution Of learn.
ing is sending out must devolve a
part Of the duty Of cultiyating a
healthy public opinion in the state
aud nation. Our country needs more