The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-07-19
Special
Features
A Menace to American Morals

Ii there is thing rather than another upon which
the American people has vaunted itself that thing NOR
aitg The austere influence OF PuritaniSm has spread
from Salem throughout wide belt of Northern States to
the Pacific Coast and the not less austere influence of
SOch-rsh PreSbyeranSm anu Of NesleyaniSm has per-
meaed the South. Pleasures that the Continental peo-
pies of Europe look upon either innocent serious
II evil have been frowned upon here aurements OF
Satan And all in ALL the standard of American morality
has been high Probably as large proportion Of peo
pie OF amy people III the world has been honest temper
ate forehanded and decent
Very moral people are apt to be conscious of their
virtues, and have been conscious OF Whatever
fears for the future of the republic occasional pessi-
mist may have suggested, they have sprung from any
doubts that have entertained upon the stern chastity
Of our manner.
1t may seem therefore quite like gratuitous croakng
declare that the chief danger threatening Amer
civilization is general deterioration Of morals and to
say that one condition in particular is serious menace to
a morality still may boast Of But let US look at
The facts.
A deterioration already apparent is revealed not in
sub aXes the growth Of beer drinking and the
version Of the New England Sabbath into the Contin
Htl Sunday; it is revealed in the transformation OF
nation Of once honorable, patriotic citizens into nation
U grafter. Professor Summers clever aphorlsm that
every is sovereign, but that sovereign cannot take
tips has become gem of archaic philosophy When Its
author cut and polished It the only grafter that we knew
anything about the Indian agents, the star route
contractors, few bankers and Congressman while mere
ZIP taking regarded as foreign 'efete and un-
Now it would seem If are all graft
a as if gentlemen of all professions and occupations
their itching palms open behind them with their fingers
nsunctively feeling for drahmas. Professor Sumner
should revise his phrase to read that every American IS
sovereign, and every sovereign is CRATER.
However this deterioration of American morals, serl-
Gus and depOrable it is is only beginning of the de-
rayity that are likely before certain social for
c that are rapidly being generated have wrought out
Their inevitable effects.
One of these forces is the passionate hysterca emo
Onasm that manifests itself in and class hatred.
mob action ana lynching in crazes "fads" and isms
Whatever else morality is 1t is at any rate mode of self
control Its preceps may be narrow, its exemplars may
e bgo its underlying philosophy may be arrant stupid
Wbu it certainly is not an individual or collective
seria. The moral man, whatever else you may say OF
m at least has himself in hand and people can long
Oast Of its morality, have any morality to boast of,
Wien it has surrendered itself to spiritual jimams
@ what kind of drink has produced t'ese phenomena of
nora nebriey throughout whole sections of the Ameri-
Luz denying the fact that in one way or another we've
got EN-"
The other social force that is bound to work the mis-
et with is one Of very different character. From
me TO time we have commented upon the astonishing
c' mat people which spends millions OF dollars annual
y upon education is nevertheless people that takes al
ISt no interest in substantial literature No other peo-
pc the world boastng of its intelligence has so small
ehtage of readers of serious books The proofs that
FN up this assertion notorious and overwhelming
G example, there at least twenty thousand some
nal pretentous public libraries in the United States, not
uhg the little If one-haf of these bought one
each of every standard book that is published there
II scientific quality. There would be a sufficient sale to
& Ihe author and the publisher for the labor and eX-
Rms ol producing it. As matter of fact there IS al
1 market for such books in this country. New York
say that the public library call for high grade
OA seldom takes up an edition of more than two hum