The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-11-30

state OF all election expenses.
There has been a general awakening
of the civic conscience. Men are COM
Ing to perceive the significance, the
dignity and responsibilities of citizen
ship, and to realize that there are no
public interests which are not also the
Interests Of each member of the civil
society. This awakening has resulted,
on the one hand, in increased and sal
utafy activity on the part of individual
private citizens, and, on the other
hand, in significant amount of indie
pendent voting. The recent elections
have chastened the parties more than
they have cheered them. That the
Ehead of a state ticket is elected and all
This associates are defeated is not a
Striking popular endorsement of his
party; it is declaration that the head
of the ticket, by the splendid perfor-
nance OF a great ethical task, has won
the confidence of the people. and is
borne to victory in spite of the handi-
cap of his party's record. That tha
head of the opposing state ticket is de-
feated, while all his associates are cleo
ted, Is not a condemnation of his prin-
ciples; it is a declaration that the man
and his methods are distructed-the
truths he protested to champion are
marching on. That is a message from
the people which politicians. will do uell
to read, learn and inwardly digest"
Great corporations and fiduciarv IN
stltutions have caused, and are pass
ing, through fire of investigation
which has proved that lawlessness.
reckless selfishness and insolent disre-
gard of ethical distinctions in their
management was something more than
the suspicion Of agitators and noyelists,
and has taught the napoleons of
hnance and captains of industry that
honesty, integrity and justice are still
words of recognized value in the Amer
lean vocabulary. One proud state is
put to shame because of suspected cor
ruptlon in recent election in its legis-
lature. Another proud state suffers
the humiliation of having the resigna-
lions of both its senator's openly de-
manded; the one because of infelicities
in his financial relations, the other be-
cause of nauseous scandal in his do
nestle life All of which being inter-
preted means that we have passed the
period of silent acquiesence, and that,
the people will no longer permit the
and methods of men to be
overshadowed by the prominence ana
dignity of their positions. The names
that are being spoken with reverence
and affection, however men may differ
on questions Of policy, are the names Of
men who stand for something of dis
tinct ethical value.
The age has taken ito asking ques-
tons. These questions do not issue
from the pulpit alone, nor vet from the
agitators, nor yet from the discomfort
ed and defeated, They issue from coll
leges and clubs, from editors and es-
sayists, from statesmen and men of
affairs, most Of all from an awakened,
reading, thinking common people.
Restlessness and the expectation Of \
change are everywhere, some mems
hearts are failing them for fear, but
most mems eyes are turned toward the
growing light that heralds a new day
There is blind but not purposeless
cropping and reaching out on every Side,
there is an apparent breaking up of old /
parties and a rejection Of old shibbo-
eths and platforms, new standards are
being set up and new demands ara. be-
ing made. The discovery and applca-
ton of truth is making men free. We
are in the period of the regeneration,
and those who are with our lord as he
struggles to help the new life to it's
birth shall sit on thrones in the king
lom that is coming.
I assume that this IS a friendly at
and that this Christian COM
oany is interested in the higher life Of
he people and the higher destiny Of
he republic. / assume that the Chris
ian politicians here have spiritual in
sight enough, to say nothing of inteln-
sence, to read the handwriting on the
vail and to sympathize with the de-
nand for the ethical treatment of all
political doctrines, revelations and
methods; I assume that the Christian
'tch men and members of corporations
lere have religion enough, to say moth
ng of intelligence, to recognize the up
ward drift of,the time and to rise above
What is legal to what is right, therefore
look for sympathy if not for entire |
agreement with my Interpretation of
he facts and tendencies we have out
ined.
What then shall we say of these
.hings? First of all, we may affirm,
nay we not? that undismayed democ-
acy, facing the odds against it, is stin
making gains and has some reason for
IS hope of ultimate triumph.
Then we may safely assert that we
ire no longer to be satisfied with any
programme, however or by whoever
'ut out, which recognizes only legal
lights and claims, that the ethical
tual-ty Of all relations, positions tran
actions must be serutinized and made
white. This is the deep current of
bought among us which our wisest
nen are bringing to expression Our
,wn President Hadley, who stands well
o the front among the sane interpre-
ers of the age, in speaking to students
N the "ethfcs of corporate manage
nent," has just now said; II have
sravely doubted the wisdom of some of |
he more recent measures adopted by
he natnonal government. But can
lot shut my eyes to the fact that these |
Kings are what business men must ex-
,ect unless business is somewhat mod |
fed to meet existing conditions. In
lustrial corporations grew up into
power because they met the needs of |