The Irish standard., 1905-07-15

IS, 1905.
which they could support themselves
and their families.
In this country where we assume so
much patriotism, and point to our form
of government as the best in the
world, we are unable to secure men
OF ability to perform public services
without paying compensations which
are larger than many of them could
earn in private pursuits. 1t is no un-
usual thing here for men to resign
from the bench or from congress or
from other public positions on the
ground that they can earn more money
in some other line. Only the other
day the chief engineer OF the Panama
canal commission resigned his position
because he was offered more money
with a railroad corporation; and this
Notwithstanding the fact that he had
an opportunity to be the directing ge.
MUS in one of the greatest engineer
ing feats ever undertaken by man.
The honor and glory of constructing
the Panama canal, if it is successfully
completed, will be greater than that
ever recorded to an engineer. Yet the
consideration of few thousand dol
lars year was sufficient to turn Mr..
Wallace's attention away from that
honor and glory.
These things but emphasize the fact
that the great and besetting sin of our
country is inordinate greed. There is
no honor equal to the possession OF
money. There is no duty to country
that takes precedence. There is no
service for humanity that replaces the
selfishness of the possession of large
wealth. 1t is meet indeed that the
President of the United States and the
press should call for more men will
ing to put aside the power which
wealth gives for the honor and the
glory of serving country and human
ity. There are, of course, cases where
the first duty of man is to provide
for himself and family, but in most
every instance where men have re-
signed positions of honor and trust in
order to secure greater financial re-
turns there has been no necessity for
the change. Most of these men are
well-to-do and have ample means TO
support themselves and their families
even though they received no compen-
sation.
We have little reason in this coun-
try to assume that we are the possess
sors Of any large degree of patriotism.
In most every case where the love of
country and the love of self are pit
ted against one another the latter
wins. Where the choice is wealth on
the one hand or honor secured by
faithful public service on the other,
the die is cast in favor of the former.
The rule in this country seems to be,
first get the money and then buy the
honor. The average American, if CIV
en- the choice of following in the foot
steps of Rockefeller or performing dis.
tinguished public service would choose
the former. All this speaks poorly in
behalf of the moral tone of the peo-
pie. 1t is not indicative of true patriot
ism. We can scarcely imagine
Rockefeller, Morgan or Hartman
coming to the aid of the government
in case of a great war with a large
share of their wealth as did the rich
men among the colonists at the time
of the Revolution. The example OF
Root and Dill, even though the in.
stances may not be ones Of pure pat
riotism, are nevertheless so deserv.
ing that they ought tc be held up as
examples to be followed. Surely their
place in the hearts of the people and
on the pages Of history should be high
er than those millionaires who, in.
stead of seeking to aid their country,
look upon the government only as an
agency through which they may be
the better able to secure unearned
wealth. The Fathers of the Republic
gave their wealth that the nation
might be founded. The millionaires Of
the present day seek only opportuni.
ties to loot the government and yet
too often these men are given more
credit in the affairs of the country
than are those who devote their tai
ents and energy to the service of the
people at small salaries. The times
are to blame for this condition. The
undue Importance attached to money
is the motive power which leads men
to pile up millions instead of working
for their country.
Mrs. Winthrop Rutherford, fourth
daughter of former Vice President
Levi P. Morton, recently renounced
the Episcopal church and is now a
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