The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1905-08-22
DRAFTING AND pUBL1cITY.
New York Financier. J


In view Of the developments Of the
year to date, the average clean-mind-
ed American has some reason for his
belief that the body politic is satur-
ated with spirit Of grating, which
word is mere modern Interpretation
of the plain English word stealing.
Yet we cannot see that there is oc-
cason for the foreboding that appears
to prevail In most gatherings where
the subject is discussed. The United
States is rot going to the dogs be.
cause few thieves have been dis
covered in high places. On the con-
trary, the revelation and accompany
ing execration Of wrongdoing that are
part and parcel Of our recent his
tory afford the strongest evidence that
to the national spirit the thief is still
as obnoxious and repugnant as at any
time in our career as nation. Ii
public conscience had been hardened
to toleration or cynical indifference
of knavery and betrayal OF trust,
there might be reason for despair, but
who among those who read the papers
can say that the position of the ex-
posed or confessed wrongdoers is COM
Portable? The denunciation and con-
tempt which such men have encount-
cred, irrespective Of their standing in
society, make It plain that the aver
age citizen is honest, that be still
hates knavery, and when occasion or
opportunity offers will crush it out
as he would physical pestilence that
threatened his or his neighbor's
home.
Corruption, financial and political
is not new disease. History does
not record nation that escaped it
entirely, but 1t does reveal that those
who fought 1t survived longest, And
the United States today Is fighting
corruption in high places as no nation
has ever done. To the extremist the
difficulty of branding the evildoer
with the mark of conviction and sub
sequent punishment may afford
ground for despair, but court convic-
tion is not always the heaviest penalty.
Publicity is quite as effective in bring
ing home to the evildoer the conse
quence of any infraction of the law
given ON Mount Sinai. No escape is
offered to him who presumes to trav-
erse the old, old Mosaic statutes, and
the brand which is put upon him by
an honest society of freemen is q bar
sinister that will endure not only in
his own lifetime, but will linger to
curse bis posterity as physical dis
ease smites the innocent after genera
tions. The men who have lately
lived in the unenviable limelight of
notoriety are beginning to realize
this keenly. What are the few ILL
gained dollars they may have acquir-
ed compared to the tarnished reputa-
tion they will carry through lifeY
There is lesson in this grating"
business, sordid and unciean as It
may seem, that the young man only
entering business life will do well to
study thoroughly. The aroused
conscience of nation cannot be paci
fled by pecuniary restitution, volun-
tary or forced. The crime back of
the action is not forgotten or forgiven.
The United States is honest, as offend
ers against moral principals are be-
ginning to appreciate now as never
before. aud it is going to remain
honest, even though it has to go into
high places to rid itself of those who
have violated the trust given into
their hands.