Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-17

ploiterS of their art!eSSneSS. but then
their friendly humor turns to hate.
Doors which stood wide open offer an
impossible front CT wood. and ears
once attentive are deaf. And the pity
is that they have closed not to the
evil alone. but 10 the good. This is the
crime of those who distort and degrade
speech: they shake confidence general
ly. We consider as Il calamity the de-
basement OF the currency. the lowering
Of interest, the abolition of credit.
There is Il misfortune greater than
these-the loss of confidence, of that
moral credit which honest people give
one another. and which makes speech
circulate like an authentic currency.
Away with counterfeiters. spectators,
rotten financiers. for they bring under
suspicion even the coin of the realm.
Away with the makers OF counterfeit
speech. for because of them there is
no longer confidence in any one or any
thing and what they say and write is
not worth Il continental.
You see how urgent it is that each
should guard his lips. chasten his pen
and aspire TO simplicity of speech. No
more perversion OF sense. circuInlocu-
ton. reticence. tergiversation. These
things serve only 10 complicate and be-
wilder. BE men. Speak the speech of
honor. An hour of plain dealing does
more for the salvation of the world
than years of duplicity.
4 lord now about national bias to
those who have Il veneration for die
ton and style. Assuredly there can
be no quarrel with the taste for grace
and elegance of speech. ! am of opin-
ion that one cannot say too well what
lie has To say. But il does not follow
that the things best said and best writ
ten are most studied. Words should
serve the fact and not substitute them
selves for il and make il forgotten in
fits establishment. The greatest things
are those which gain the most by be-
ing said most simply, since thus they
show themselves for what they are.
You do not throw over them the veil,
however transparent. of beautiful dis
course, nor that shadow so fatal TO
truth called the writer's vanity. Moth
ing so strong. nothing so persuasive, as
simplicity, There are sacred emotions.
cruel griefs. splendid heroisms. pas
sionate enthusiasms. that, look, n
Il cry. interprets better than
beautifully rounded periods. The most
precious possessions of the heart OF
humanity manifest themselves most
simply. To he convincing a thing must
be true. and certain truths are more
evident when they come In the speech |
of inGenuousness. even weakness. than
when they fall from lips too well train |
ed or are proclaimed with trumpets. |
And these rules are good for each OF
US I'm his everyday life. No one can |
imagine what profit would accrue 10 |
his moral life from tine constant obser !,
walton OF this principle: BE sincere. |
moderate. simple in the expression OF |
your feelings and opinions in private |
and public alike; never pass beyond |
bounds. give out faithfully what is
within You. and above all watch-that |
is the main thing.
For the danger in fine words is that
they live from life OF their own.
They are servants of distinction that
have kept their titles. but no longer
perform their functions. of which roy
nj courts offer us example You speak
well. write well. and all is said. How
many people content themselves with
speaking ana believe that il eXempts
hem from acting. And those who lis
Ten are content with having heard
hem. So il sometimes happens that Il
life may in the end he made up OF few
well turned speeches. n few fine books
md few great plays. As for practic-
ne what Is 50 masisterially set forth
hat Is the last thing thought of. And
4
% spheres which the mediocre exploit.
here in a pellmcil OF confusion We see
hose who think that we are in the