The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-11
TO IMPROVE POLITICS.
Bonaparte Says a Mixture OF Religion
Is Desirable.

- -~NSAA eAOACs
Baitimore. July 11.-Charles J..
sion of the Christian Endeavor con-
Venuon. He said. in part:
many years ago story was told of
q wen known professional politician in
this city, now dead, who on his return
from church one Sunday was met nv
newspaper reporter, who remarked
TO MN in substance: "Mr. A, do
not understand how so regular an at
eSnoant at church as you are can be
ballot boxes, fixing juries and wit
neSses and plugging corporations"
Mr.. B.. replied the statesman, 81
never mix up politics and religion
~ Lale years the American people
nave SHOWN a disposition sufficiently
pain to be widely remarked to act
upon different principle. So many
OF our citizens are beginning to mix
up a good deal of what my late fell
low toWnsrnan would call religion"
with what he would call politics, ;"
ana the result of this mixture is so un-
palatable and unwholesome to those of
ms way of thinking and acting that
Few words as to the real nature. causes
and consequences of the phenomenon
terest.
The underlying evil in the admin
istration OF our public affairs is
l
are too often held by dishonest men,
too often gained by dishonest means.
TOO often used for dishonest ends. OF
course / do not mean that all or a
lita 5s,- or even any large number
or our officials will take public moneys
or fraudulently waste public property,
or IN any way cause penitentiaries to
yawn for them; such incidents are,
indeed. much more frequent than
they should be, but it may be doubted
II the Hr0nOrff0f1 Of dnxx7T7 ri
among the peoples servants is larger
than among those of private masters
The great bulk of Americans in pub
lie employ wish and intend to do
their duty, but a grave and mischiev-
Gus, though very common confusion
of ideas as to what is their duty
makes the best of them sometimes
fail to do it and permits the worst
often to neglect it with impunity.
| The error is rooted in a mistaken
and immoral theory as to the nature
of the position they hold. In law and
morals alike public Office belongs
to the people; its duties are fixed by
the peoples laws; it's salaries are paid
with the peoples money.
Offices Treated as Loot.
While, however, few deny fatty and
openly the truth of the doctrine thus
laid down, it is practically contradict
/ ed every day and in all parts of the
union; for seventy-five years we have
| treated as mere loot and in political
warfare, not as trusts belonging to the
people, but as tspoils" belonging to
| the .'victors."
of many offices can be largely in
creased by adopting latitudinarian
views as to certain lines of official con-
duct, an absence of prejudice is soon
cultivated against tips, sugar" the
plugging of corporations and other
practices with conventional and euphe-
mistic names which cloak such bald
terms as extortion and bribery. Three
years ago, during a public hearing be-
| fore our state senate as to a corrupt
practice act, advocated by the Balti-
| more Reform league, on whose behalf
| L appeared, it was openly. stated by
one Of the most experienced politi-
clans of the state, with out dissent from
any one, that certain wealthy corpora
tons habitually contributed literally
to the campaign funds Of both" the
leading parties, in return for an i'm
piled, if not an express pledge that
they should dictate legislation affecting
them in case of the success of either;
and the fact that the bill in question
made criminal any contribution for a
political purpose by a corporation was
universally admitted to have been the
principal reason for it's defeat.
| Civil service reform, in fact, applies
a caustic to the very ulcer in our poll
| tics, in the application of morality and
| common sense TO the ChO1c6 OF PUBIC
servants. The typical American poll
tician as depicted by the spoils system
| of politics earns his living by holding,
when he can get 1t, a public Office in
return for past or expected party
works; to get rid of him and his work
we must thoroughly eradicate from
our own minds and those of our fellow
citizens the absurd and wicked notion
that offices are "spoils.' This must
be our first step if we would purify our
politics, and so long a step that it will
GO far to render needless any further
steps in the work of publication.
| Between the good and bad men in pol
| itics there is and should be a warfare
| without truce or quarter, for whoever
| would now do good in any form to his
fellow men finds the degradation of oul
| political life a hindrance in his task II
] he would protect the public health
| wisely relieve want, train youth, shell
| ter the unfortunate, suppress vice OIL
boss" and ring" and to do his allotted
work well, must sooner or later sweeI
| them from his path. He cannot, how,
ever. much as he would let them alone
| for they will not, indeed they cannot
! let him alone. Could he and those like
| minded with him attain full success
their power and prosperity were doom
ed, for they would then have no victim:
| where on to prey; no dupes to do theil
work; by the very law of their bein<
| they are the natural enemies of every
one who would lead others to higher
| puTer and healthier life. Men like then
| have made their trade so dangerous
| SO odious, so noisome, that against i
| every force in our midst that makes fol
| Righteousness must be directed tomor
| row as it should be today.