The Republican., 1904-05-26

the collections of silverware stolen
from the public and private places to
which they have been admitted as
guests?
Il may be in error, but | hold that
the average official does about what
his constituency expects of him. If he
is honest he reflects honesty. and if he
is dishonest he reflects dishonesty. 1t
is Il severe statement to make, but the
conclusion is inevitable that the low
moral tone of our public service has
its foundation in the low moral tone
of those who create ii.
81 met a young man recently who
had been appointed to public position
of considerable Importance. He is Il
man OF high moral character. He was,
reared by parents who had old fashion
ed views of honesty, and the boy is
worthy of their training. He was much
discouraged wien he came to me.
- hold Il position, he said. which
compels me TO finally pass upon the
awarding of contracts involving the eX-
penditure of large sums of money.
int lIlt NOi n, anu lilt Ssldil - Sdllo-
factory. l fear however. that | shall
be compelled to tender my resignation
when l pressed him for reasons for
taking such a step he said:
~ am constantly subjected to in
suits from those whom | considered my
friends and to indignities from those
with whom my official position throws
me in contact. Nearly all of my old
acquaintances assume that | am in
position where | can-well to put it
bluntly, steal money. 1t seems TO be
established beyond a doubt that my
predecessor took unfair advantage of
his place, and he died rich and respect
ed My friends seem to be divided in
to two classes, one of which assumes
that | am lining my pockets at the ex-
pense of the public treasury. These
congratulate me on my luck or intlu
ence in securing SO favorable field
for loot and advise me to make hay
while the sun shines. SO much for the
first class. The second class esteems
me an honest man and consequently
an ass. l am assured by these ad-
yiSers that no one will be the wiser if
exact a commission from successful
bidders; that it is a recognized and eS-
tablished custom. and legitimate per-
quisite to which l am entitled; that |
never will acquire influence until put
powerful interests under obligation to
me; that l am expected TO derive such
revenues and to pay a liberal percent
age Of them into the party treasury in
order to win a victory in the next elec
ton, and, finally. that my notions of
honesty are so out of date as to stamp
me as Il fool or hypocrite l am al
ternately threatened or cajoled by
those whose accepted bribes would per
nit them to rob the community
Il listened to him, and when he had
ended asked him if there was not
third class lie had forgotten.
Surely | said. there must be some
who know your attitude and indorse it.
The commendatiOn Of these honest cit
liens should more than repay the slurs
of your false friends
He assured me that no such class
/ tAISlCt III Ills NuSt, vi Ibt IOtllc
his observation Shortly after this in
terview the young man resigned his
position and was succeeded by 'prac-
teal politician.
1T Is idle to hope for political or of
fetal honesty until such time as there
is a national revival of civic and bust
ness honesty. There will come a time
when the frenzy of money madness
will be succeeded by a return to sane
morality Nature seems to have or
dained that all things move in cycles,
and this one will pass away. The
future student of history will read the
puzZling record of these times and
doubt the accuracy of the historian
who declares that an era once existed
when the daZZled worshipers of mon
| ey almost forgot the distinctions be-
| tween vice and virtue.
"Our country stands in need of the
patriots and of the patriotism of hon
esty. The great heart of the nation
and of its people yet beats true to the
lofty ideals of the past, but its eyes
are fixed on the cleaning heaps of gold
which lie scattered along its path of
I progress, and its ears are ravished by
the incantations of its devotees. Des-
tiny holds in store for this people a
grandeur which never comes even as a
dream TO the delivers and graspers
after material greatness"
A Little Too Much.