The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-02
THINGS MAYOR MCCLELLAN SAID
AT FOrdham University When He Re-
ceiyed the LII. ID.
(From his address delivered Wednes-
IaVl

(From his address delivered Wednes-
day).
Every age has it's evils. We have
ours. But we must not expect that the
is.es yil.ch have destroyed Others
Nil not destroy us if we permit them
to endure.
Our besetting sin is avarice. Oul
mad rush for wealth is not an honest
effort TO Increase the products of ma
ture or the avails of human effort
but hideous vice of Unsuitable greed
Year by year we see it invading the
government with ever increasing au-
dacity. Men cry out against tainted
money-that has its vile record be
hind it. What we have to fear il
money which taints. which braZenly
tempts men to. sell their honor, and
then buys it.
No great republic was ever struck
down by the mailed hand of brute force
until it had first exalted the money,
lover to the place of trust which only
the man of honor should be assigned
to guard.
Let us not shut our eyes. This evil
menaces us. 1t is really the only vice
which destroys patriotism. The heart
of the Worshipper of Mammon loses
every sentiment of love for God and
country. With it's harm I'll influence
in private life l am not now concerned;
] speak of its banefL. effects upon the
institutions of the country, when il
succeeds in debauching the represeH-
tatives of the people to betray the peo-
pies right for the enrichment of the
unlawfully privileged few.
Let us not delude ourselves with So
phistry. The man who betrays his
public trust for money, by comparison,
makes the crime of Benedict Arnold
sink into insignificance, and lends a
respectable hue even to piracy.
We know the usual result when COR
ruption becomes prevalent in high
places. The people do not respect and
obey the lawfully constituted authori-
ties. You cannot compel respect
by force, and if you could the success
of the effort would mark the end of
a free people.
And, surely, if constituted authority
becomes degraded by its own treason
to the people, it will not inspire the
respect necessary for the reign of law
and order. Should that reign cease il
would mark the end of the republic.
Do not, l beg you, think me unduly
pessimistic. Thank God, our destruc-
ton is not at hand. The evil has not
yet spread enough for that But the
danger is here, and all good citizens,
especially those whose liberal educa>
to discern the nature and tendency OF
the evil. must ward it off.
Courage is required for the work.
and patience and prudence. To desert
such a cause in despair is the act of
one who has lost faith in himself as
we'll as in human nature. 1t requires
no historical display, no resort to Wis
ionary theories 1t can be accomplish
ed bv bringing about n return of the
old virtues of simple, honorable man
mood, the encouragement of an in
telligent patriotism and the n.ainten-
ance of the equality of all men, poor
or rich, before the law.
When your earnestneSs has made
the danger plain. the danger will have
been averted. The experience of the
harm done and the danger avoided
will but increase our stock of wisdom.
| urge YOU with all the earnestness
that is in me never to- forget nS ynn 90
through life that the grace of fortune
which makes you educated gentlemen
imposes upon you the duty of striv-
ing for the diffusion of those principles
Of government which VIII make for
the peace and prosperity of our
country.