The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1905-11-29
GROVER CLEvELAND'S NOTE OF WARNING.

The following extracts are taken
from an article by Grover Cleveland
on "The Integrity of American
Character" which will appear in the
December Harpers:
at will doubtless be generally con-
fessed that the departures of the
American people from the way origin
ally ordained for them we're never SO
common and never SO disquieting as
now. In official circles offenses of
m~alfeasance and corrupt breaches of
nublic trust are alarmingly frequent.
The old landmarks of integrity and
f~aithfulness to duty which once marked
our national course of safety are
rashly neglected, and puplic ex-
travagance. no longer universally
condemned as a disgrace to official
stewardship, is Haunted before our
people as evidence of the splendor of
our nationality. In business and
social circles the pursuit of money
has become heartless and rapacious,
the Difference to those who have won
great fortunes has grown in many
quarters to be 81 unquestioning and
SO Obsequious as to amount to scandal
lous servitude, while the envy of the
rich among the struggling poor is
mOr than ever bitter and menacing.
In politics there is far too often con-
~cealed behind q pretense of devotion
to the public veal the sly promotion
of disreputably selfish and personal
advantages, and in the industrial;
field there is no longer found the
generous and contente1 cooperation
between employer and employe, which
should insure the prosperity and
happiness of both. The tremendous
question confronting US is whether
these things can be regarded as mere
items of bad behavior which will
yield to correction, or whether we
must submit to the belief that they
are symptoms and manifestations of
. fundamental and radical change in
American character. In discussing
the significance of the untoward ap-
pearances forced upon our view, we
should resist the influence of gloomy
forebodings and at the same time
guard against the instructive and
complacent notion that American in
situations have endured long enough
TO demonstrate that neither assault
from without nor malignant disease
within can defeat the experiment of
popular rule. Surely, there is q
cloud bigger than q mans hand in
our national sky, but this does not
necessarily presage our destruction
by Mood or storm. United States
Senators and Representatives in
Congress who, relying on the loose
ideas OF honesty pervading their
environment, have betrayed the trust
OF the people find that no perverted
sentiment and no disguise or dazzle
OF high position avail to save them
from the fate of common malefactors.
A startling exposure lssely made Of
the reckless management of some of
our leading life insurance companies
has not only laid bare overt acts of
Mongdoing, but has made public, in
ugly %rtlief, ~ astonishing needless
ness and disregard of the duties of
~trusteeship. Searching investigation
and hints Of legal persuasion have
already resulted in the restitution of
large sums rightfully belonging to
one of these companies and nearly
a4i VINO were direc.ors at the time the
m~alfeasance occurred have been
summoned into court to give account
Of their Stewardship.
I'VE need have no quarrel with
wealth. In : country offering such
boundless opportunities o ours ito
accumulation cannot be forbidden
nor its apportionment decreed. We
should not however be unmindful of
the fact that the getting of riches is
apt to lead to the adoption Of . code
Of morals which though suited to It's
purpose does mot furnish the best
guarantee of national security and
the general welfare and happiness OF
our people. Il would near much IL
0ur wealthy men would more Rener.