The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-23
CLERGYMAN
TALKS ON
GRAFTERS

Rev. Marion Law. rector OF ST. Pauls
Episcopa church, Pawtucket, delivered
an address last evening on THE Graft
er I'm American Political and Commercial
Life lie said I'm part;
~ shall tonight preach the gospel OF
common honesty and decency and love
OF country and shall not side with either
political party. In fact, ! am neither Re-
publican nor Democrat. I am happy to
say. though by n descent a Republican.
Though ~ Il were the days OF Lincoln. I
would be "A Republican. ! today proclaim
myself utterly Independent OF any political
party and vote for the men | believe to
be the best men. irrespective OF political
utilization. In other words. ! belong To
the rapidly growing class called dn dis
cussion) mugwumps, and glory In the fact
and am quite Indifferent as to what | am
called. | believe I'm common decency. COM
mon honesty. ! shall try 10 preach, then,
tonight, favoring no party. This. | main
tain. Is preaching the gospel. II anyone
desires To call IL preaching politics, that
is their privilege.
but the time, has come, has fully
come. when every man VINO loves his
country and believes in honesty should
speaknut-Ills-n M -alarmLst cry 10 say
that our country IL In grave peril. Many
men, and good men. too. are today pessi-
mistic as TO the future OF American insti-
tutions. And we'll they may be. for graft
and low thlevery and treason are bocom-
Ing almost the rule rather than the ex-
ception I'm American political and COM
mercial life.
why? Because OF the grafters, the
thieves I'm our political and social life. Yes.
the trusts have their share of the blame
to bear also, for they have been the great
est agency I'm corrupting our law-mHking
bodies. The trusts and corporations are
the greatest anarchists I'm America to-
day. I'm their disregard and defiance Of
law and instriking at the very root OF
law and order by c%orrupting the sources
OF iustce.
But II we had honest men I'm office
they could not be bribed and corrupted.
1t Is because so many-not all-but so
many. are grafters and thieves that this
corruption is possible. Who doubts for n
moment that our whole American life Is
rotten with corruption. graft and thiev-
cry? Listen 10 n brief account. only. Of
the situation as II has been revealed I'm
recent year. How many nave forgotten
land how few remember) the stealing and
dishonesty in our national Postoffice de-
partment n few years SINGER What a
Snameful condition OF Rratt was ulscoN-
cred and how thankful all honest and Just
men are that many OF the guilty ones are
now behind prison bars and wearing
prison stripes.
This Is The dark SIDE, and II is black
enough. But. on the other hand, there
are ravs OF hope. There Is our presi-
dent. incorruptible and splendid Gods
greatest gift to this nation I'm the last
quarter century. Our presidents career
is n splendid example Of what the people
will do with tho men whose lives arc gov
erned 10y conscience.
Another hopeful sign Is the sudden
overthrow of the gang I'm Philadelphia -
the driving OF the thieves out ~ hiHh
places. There Is. too. the constant night
for good government i'm New York and
there are rising up all over thiI land, n
new type Of young statesmen like FOLK
OF Missouri. IaFollette OF Wisconsin
Beveridge OF Indiana. and jerome Of Now
York. May their tribe Increase who
love their country too well % rob ",
men who fear no boss. men whose lives
are lived by rules OF conscience and for
conscience sake"