The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-02-15
MARK TWAIN ON MORALS.
Humorist Insists There Are Two
Sorts, Public and Private.

Humorfst Insists There Are Two
Sorts, Public and Private.
Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain),
who delivered characteristic speech
the other night in carnegie hall. New
York, at the celebra ton Of the twenty
fifty anniversary CT the founding Of
Tuskegee by Booker T. Washington,
spoke as follows on morals:
& Sat Tuskegee they thoroughly teach
/ the student the Christian code Of NOR
ais; that he should in all things be a
Christian.
aa4All this is true, and no student will
leave Tuskegee ignorant Of It. Then
what will he lack under this head?
What is there for me to teach him!
Why. this large fact. this important
fact-t,at there are two separate and
distinct kinds Of Christian morals; so
separate. so distinct SO unrelated, that
they are no more kin to each other than
are archangels and politicians. The one
kind is Christian private morals. the
other is Christian public morals. The
LOYAL observance of Christian private
morals has made this nation what it Is
Ia clean and upright people in its pri-
.vate domestic life. an honest and hon.
orable' people In its private commercial
life.
. eDuring 363 days in the year the
American citizen is true to his Chris
fian private morals and keeps unde-
fled the nations character. On the
other two days of the year he leaves
His Christian private morals at home
snd carries his Christian public morals
4 to the tax Office and the polls and does
the best he can to damage and undo
his whole years faithful and righteous
work. Without a blush he will vote for
an unclean boss II that boss is his par
tvs Moses. Without compunction he
will vote against the best man In the
whole land If he is on the other ticket.
Every year in number OF cities and
states he helps to put corrupt men in
Office; every year he helps to extend the
corruption wider and wider. Year after
year he goes on gradually rotting the
country's political life, whereas if he
would but throw away his Christian
public morals and carry his Christian
private morals to the polls he could
promptly purify the public service and
make the possession Of Office high
and honorable distinction and one to be
coveted by the very best men the coun-
try could furnish. But now-well, now
he contemplates his unpatriotic work
and sighs and grieves and blames ev-
cry man but the right one, which is
himself.
"Once a year he lays aside his Chris
tian private morals and hires a ferry
boat and piles up his bonds in ware
house in New Jersey for three days.
and gets out his Christian public NOR
ais and goes to the tax Office and holds
I'D his hand and swears he wishes he
may neEer-never If he's got cent in
the world, 80 help him! The next day
the list appears in the papers, and ev-
cry man In the list Millionaire and
member of couple Of churches. /
know all those people. I have friendly
and social relations with the whole Of
them.
''Mr. Washington, beg you to con-
yey these teachings to your great and
prosperous and beneficent educational
institution and add to them the prodi-
gal mental and moral riches wherewith
you equip your fortunate proteges for
the struggle Of life"