Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-12-14
RECOVERING CONSCIENCE.

The boldness and assertiveness OF
President Roosevelt's candor and his
consistent keeping OF faith with his
announced policy. shown In nis per-
vistent pursuit OF thieves and graft
srs In public office. promise to recov-
or the American conscience and TO re-
establish the simpler and truer nom
esty Of the days OF Abe Lincoln.
The president has been candid In
every official act and utterance of his
life. Whether II has ever been pain
full to him to dismiss from the public
service men who have abused the pub
lie confidence, he has made no excep-
tion to a rule embodied in demand
for honest and faithful service.
Among those who have fallen under
the presidents scythe, perhaps none
felt more keenly their humiliation
than Senator Burton OF Kansas and
Senator Mitchell of Oregon. Mr. Bur
ton had used the United States mails
in furtherance of the success OF the
get-rich-quick frauds finding their
base Of operation in st. Louis. The
exposure OF Mr.. Burton's connection
with these frauds resulted In his I'm
peachment and lasting disgrace.
Senator Mitchell. In the last years
Of a life that had been made glorious
by the love and confidence Of the peo-
pie Of his state. was found TO be as
sociated with glaring land frauds in
Oregon, after thorough and careful
investigation OF the history of gigan-
tic swindling of the government by
means OF false land entries and with
the exposure came the loss of the peo-
ple's confidence. his high position
and, finally, doubtless his life. Last
Saturdays dispatches from Washing
ton to The Herald stated that the an
nouncement at the capital Of his
death had been received coldly. The
senate did not observe its custom OF
adjournment In respect to the dead
member, and Vice President Fairbanks
took no action in the customary ap-
pointment Of a senate committee to
attend the funeral of Senator Mitch
ell. Standing convicted OF an offense
against the federal laws. Senator
Mitchell, In death, Is ignored as he
had been during the last months of
his life. The dead senator's friends
did not ask for committee, doubtless
feeling that 1t would not be granted.
But Mitchell suffered little in com
parison with the grief which must
come to his daughter as result OF
his abuse Of the public confidence.
The daughter was married not long
ago to some titled foreigner who was
looking more for American money
than the affection Of an American
woman, and the marriage had been
made possible through the tainted
fortune Of the father. That daughter
is now the mother OF daughter. Per
haps her life will he made bearable
rs long as her fathers fortune lasts,
but she must bear the ignominy OF
the parents disgrace.
Bringing back the spirit of Lincoln
to the presidency, with. II possible.
greater earnest and more forceful ex.
scutive ability, President Roosevelt
has established again in the public
mind . deeper sense OF their moral
obligations, both in public and pri-
vate life, and the growth OF the senti-
ment lmbued Is congratulatory to the
American people; 1t will not wear off.
but will continue to gain strength and
support from every walk of life. from
the humblest to the highest stations.
And the splendid policy reinaugur-
ated will be lesson to the nations
Of earth, and we will win greater dis
tinction In their courts.
Blessed was the hour when Roose-
welt came to take the lamented Nc
Kinley's place.