Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-14

rake In his hand; who was offered ce-
lestial crown for his muck rake, but who
would neither look UP nor regard the crown
he was offered, but continued to rake TO
hin self the filth of the floor
I'm Pilgrims Progress the man with
the muck rake is set forth the example
of him whose vision is fixed on carnal IN
stead of on spiritual things. Yet he also
typifes the man who in this life consistent
ly refuses TO see aught that is lofty, and
fixes his eyes with solemn intentness only
on that which Is vile and debasing. Now,
IL is very necessary that we should not
finch from seeing what Is vile and debas-
Ing. There is filth on the floor. and 1t
must be scraped up with the muck rake;
and there are times and places where this
service Is the most needed of all the serv-
Ices that can be performed. But the man
who never does anything else, who never
thinks or speaks or writes, save of MS
feats with the muck rake, speedily be-
comes, not help to society, not an fncite
lnent to good, but one of the most potent
forces for evil
Economic and Social Evils.
There are. in the body polite, economic
and social, many and grave evils, and there
is urgent necessity for the sternest war
upon them. There should be relentless ex-
posure of and attack upon every evil man,
whether politician or business man. every
evil practice, whether In politics, in bust
ness or in social life. 1 hail as q bene-
factor every writer or speaker, every man
who, on the platform, or In book, maya
zine or newspaper, with merciless sever
ity makes such attack, provided always
that he in hts turn remembers that the
attack Is of use only If 1t Is absolutely
truthful. The liar is no whit better than
the thief, and If his mendacity takes the
form of SANDER he may be worse than
most thieves. 1t puts premium upon
knavery untruthfully to attack an honest
man, or even with hystericaI exaggera tfoa
tn aSSail a had with
demic of indiscriminate assault upon char
acter does not good, but very great harm
The soul of every scoundrel is gladdenad
whenever an honest man is assailed or
even when scoundrel Is untruthfuiy as
sailed.
Now, 1t is easy to twist out of shane
what | have just said easy to affect to mis-
understand 1t, and, IL 1t is slurred over in
repetition, not really difficult to misunder-
stand 1t. Some persons are sincerely incap-
able of misunderstanding that to denounce
understanding does not mean the indorse-
menf or embarrassing; and both the in
terested individuals who need whitewash-
ing and those others who practice mud
singing ike to encourage such confusion
OF IDEAS. One of the chief counts against
those who make indiseriminate assault
upon men in business or men in public life
is that they invite reaction which is SUI
to tell powerfully in favor OF the unscrupu-
lous scoundrel who really ought to be at
tackled, who ought TO be exposed who
ought, If possible. to be put in the peniten-
tiary. If Aristides is praised overmuch as
just, people get tired of hearing IL; and
overeenture of the unjust finally and from
similar reasons results In their favor.
Invites Reaction.
Amy excess Is almost sure to invite a
reaction and. unfortunately, the reaction,
instead of taking the form of punishment
of those guilty of the excess, Is very apt
to take the form either of punishment of
the unoffending or of giving immunity, and
make financial or political profit out of the
destruction of character can only result In
public calamity Gross and reckless as
saults on character, whether on the stump
or in newspaper, magazine or book, create
morbid and vicious pubic sentiment and
at the same time act as a profound de-
terrent to able men of normal sensitive
ness and tend to prevent them from enter
ing the public service at any price AS an
instance In point may mention that one
serious d. difficulty encountered In getting the
right type of men to dig the Panama canal
Is the certainty that they VIII be exposed
times within. Congress, to utterly reckless
assaults on their character and capacity.
AT the risk OF repetition let me say again
that my plea is not for immlsfity to but for
the most unspairing exposure of the poll
tician who betrays his trust, OK the big
business man who makes or spends his for
tune In nlegitimate or corrupt ways. There
should be a rcsolute effort to hunt every
such man out of the position he has dts
grace3. Expose the crime and hunt down
the criminal, but remember thai even IN
the case OF crime. IL Il il attacked In SEN
sationai. lurid and untruthfui fashion, the