The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-19
CRAFT IS GROWING
SAYS CLEVELAND.
Former President Points
to Corrupt Breaches
0fPubliC Trust.
.FLAUNT CRIME
BEFORE PEOPLE
It is Generally Confessed, Writes
Mr.. Cleveland, That Offenses
Of Malfcasance in Official
Circles Were Never
So Common
AS Now.

Especial 10 rho Times. Dispatch.

Especial 10 The Times. Dispatch)
NEW YORK, November 1S.--The fol-
loving article on ..rne Integrity OF
American Character" wfittenyby Grover
zine for December, and Is copyrighted
by Harper Bros:
No member OF the family of mankind
Is free from the besetment Of aurng
temptation. nor exempt from the danger
of tiiraldom to pernicious habits and in
clina tons. Z he forces OF evil are con-
stantly on the watch for the unwary who
venture beyond the line OF high principle
and moral safety. ar6 those who wander
are fortunate II in good time they see
their peril and arc able TO break away
from the destinations and false lights
which malcvolence displays for their I'M
doing.
The path Of return to security, though
it may be toilsome. is plainly marked ont,
and those who sincerely desire to retracc
their steps, and who have not lost the
strength and endurance OF right-minded-
n ess, need not despair Of restoration to
virtue and happiness. There Is however,
basolutely no hope for those who In their
wanderings have SO undermined their
conscienc and sense OF duty that they
have become victims OF incurablc weak
ness and moral collapse
Let us fully realize the immeaslraoie
which result from surrender to tenpta
tion or unpremeditated alteration. and a
chronically perverted moral ana men.ai
condition, no longer responsive 20 .hs
voice OF conscience or mindful OF nou
and duty.
In one case wrongdoing has not sa.u-
rated the moral and mental system VIZ
depravity, nor wrecked characte,. ~. ~
submerged hope OF redemption; IN the
ether case. there has supervened sucn
insens!b!l.ty TO high ideals and such pa
1alysis of the power OF right thtnklng
that there is nothing left to build repair
upon.
The characterization thus made OF the
quality and consequences OF human acts
and conditions. as they relate TO lndlvlo-
ua,s is equally applicable TO the conduct
and disposition OF an aggregation OF IN
div!duals constituting a State or nation.
A nation. no less than an individual. is
prone to wander from the vantage ground
OF safe principle and tradition, and the
effect of such wandering upon national
character and achievement Is not less
marked nor more difficult OF estimation.
Departure From Old Ways.
! II will doubtless be generally confessed
that the departures of the American peo-
pie from the way originally ordained for
them were never SO common and never SO
dsquietIng as now. In otilclal circles
offenses Of malfeasance and corrupt
breaches OF public trust arc alarmingly
frequent The old landmarks OF integrity
and faithfulness to duty which once
marked our national course of safety
arc rashly neglected. and public extrava-
gance, no longer universally condemned
as disgrace to official stewardship, is
Haunted before our people as evidence OF
the splendor of our nationality.
In business and social circles the pur-
suit Of money has become heartless and
rapacious; the Difference to those who
have won great fortunes has grown in
many quarters to be SO unquestioning
and so obseauious as to amount to scan
dalous servity, while the envy of the
rich among the struggling poor Is more
than ever bitter and menacing.
In politics there is far too often con-
cealed behind a pretense Of devotion to
the public veal the sly promotion of
disreputable selfish and personal advant-
ages; and In the industrial field there is
no longer found the generous and the
contented cooperation between employer
and employee which should insure the
prosperity and happiness OF both.
In addition to all this, there is sadly
apparent among those who undertake
trusteeshlp a tendency to complaccntly
venture upon hold and rank violations
of Suty, only explained by the preva-
lence OF Lax and fl!ppant conceptions of
the sacredness Of fduciary obligations.
This is an arraignment which every
nroud American citizen would be glad I
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