The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-26
Graft and the Public Conscience.

The we'll written, vigorous and manly
letter by "A Plumbers Helper printed
on this page is well worth reading. 1t
shows sort Of indignant despair on
its authors part. Everywhere he sees
graft, public and private. Business is
dishonest. Labor delegates sell them
selves. Old known corruptions In State
and city are still unpublished. After
all, exposure is great cry and little
wool. Only a quarrel OF thieves for
the swag has shown how the Equitable
bigwigs have been robbing the grave
to line their pockets. Eminent travel
ing magazine missionaries Like the
Hon. LINCOLN STEFFENs pipe and no.
body dances. 1t Is no credit to the
people when official or private crook
edness comes out, for it comes out by
accident. Finally, nobody cares. Even
the looting of the Equitable is treated
cynically. What is the use Of working
when you can steal? What will the
effect of this state of things and minds
be upon the young men just about to
vote for the first time?
Well, on one young man, our friend
the Plumbers Helper" all this that he
complains of too despondingly has had
. good effect. His anger proves that.
II wicked" JOHN WEAVER reveses
himself while the lamp holds out to burn,
Is not that evidence that even Phila-
delphia politicians are ready, az FER
NANDo WooD is said to have said, to
"pander a little to the moral sentiment
q the community?
No sacred character belongs to Mr..
STEPHENS. excellent and industrious
writer as he is; and places that he visits
are not obliged to rise and mutiny.
The young mans impotence shows
in our friends remarks about Missouri
and Rhode Isl3d. Boodledom is not
to be pulled down in day Missouri
honors her boodler hunter. We hear
Rhode Islanders say that their little
State is by no means 80 bad as she Is
painted. San Francisco is able to clean
herself, II she is soiled. As for New
York, does our correspondent really
think that New York il wicked and III
ruled among cities? Then, If he will
permit us to say 80, he is delightfully."-
young. Hewould have perfection every
where and at short notice. May he live
long and work hard for that great end.
We heard common, ordinary man
in the subway yesterday say Of the
Equitable philanthropists: There ought
to be a special hell for those fellows"
That was one way Of putting it. The
cynical tone more especially character
istic of New York, characteristic in fact
OF all great cities, should not deceive
the nearer. whats the use Of working
when you can work the public?' the
clerk or the laborer may say, and chuck
les at his little joke. Does that prove
him to be tolerant OF graft? No, YOU
Cad among wage earners and salaried
men detestation or contempt for the
SNUG responsibilities that have been
caught in the act; and you hear grim
suggestions about breaking stone" as
the proper occupation for certain high
inancies.
AS to "our fathers" and their course
about graft and bribery, the past is al |
ways better in the eyes Of the present.
Yet we have no hesitation in asserting
that, opportunity, wealth and popula-
ton being taken into due account, 1905
10 as honest and has at least as high |
q standard Of public duty as the sainted |