The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-02-07
A SERIOUS EPIDEMIC
Church Paper on the
Swearing Of MIR.
Finley
Dr.. lvey, Editor Of the Raleigh
Christian Advocate, Deplores the
Effort Of Speaker Justice Before
Joint Legislative Committee.

1t used to be lii North Carolina
that u gentleman was considered a
gentleman until he was proven other
wise. Now it seems that a gentle.
man must take oath that he is one
before he has u chance" These
words in substance came a few even
ings ago from the lips of one OF North
Cardinals most trusted sons.
What evoked the utterance, we do
not know. 1t may have been the
spectacle, witnessed only a few hours
before, of high official, a-kindly,
courteous, Christian gentleman APP
pearing before a committee and fail
ing to impress the committee with
his truthfulness as to a certain state
ment made until he had taken the
Holy Bible and on it sworn that he
was actually telling the truth. Or,
it may have been the spectacle wit
messed only few minutes before of q
certain committeeman expressing
his opposition to granting editors OF
newspapers the privilege of making
advertising contracts with railroads
in exchange for transportation, on
the ground that editors might lie
and cheat in the way OF allowing
their transportation to be used by
those not entitled to the privilege.
Each spectacle was certainly suffi-
cient to call forth the earnest words
| quoted. 1t is that the tone of public
confidence has been lowered beneath
the point at which legitimate trust
and legitimate watchfulness maintain
healthy balance. Watchfulness has
degenerated into general suspicion,
which, green-eyed and rabid, is raven
ing among the men and women form
ing the body polite.
1.-The fragrant shortcomings and
crimes of cooperative activity in the
last few decades" you say, "have
brought about this alarming decay
in public confidence" We admit
these shortcomings and crimes
Some life insurance companies have
proven unworthy of their charters
Banks have failed. Railroads have
overridden their privileges. Patriots
have proven only politicians, and of
a very variety. Honest, upright
underlings have become degenerate
millionaires. But all this haye happen
ed in principle since corporate hu-
manity began to exercise it's faculties,
ard the world is as good at least to
day as it was u thousand years ago.
We pity the man who honestly thinks
otherwise. Wehave no more right to
argue from general to q particular
in public and private living than in
logic.
Life insurance companies may go
wrong, but this does not argue
against the legitimacy of the business,
and the fact that a life insurance
man may be true and honest. Rail-
roads may plunder and oppress, but
this does not mean that every rail-
road is rotten and that all railroad
officials are embodiments OF crafti-
ness and extortion. Bank officers
may defraud, but the fact does not
prove that the "salt OF The earth"
may not be found behind the ca sh-
ier's window. Officials, national,
State, and municipal, may prostitute
their high position to low political
and commercial purposes, but this
does not mean that every man in Office
is to be regarded as corrupt. Because
a man who has gained great wealth
/ has made tyrant or fool of HIM
self is no reason why we should take
up and send on the anarchistic cry
that every rich man is living on dis
honest gains. Because the civic and
; commercial decalogue differs in the
r case OF some from the decalogue oil
r Sinai, is no reason why we should
conclude that the whole civic and
commercial world has lost sight oil
the latter
. Give us a clear eye quick to detect
! the wrong. The listening ear ready
to catch the false note i'm private
word and public proclamation; bu,
above all give us the large-hearted
confidence in humanity which 10
Gates the credentials OF manhood in
integrity OF private character fear
ing no public gaze, and which will &c
knowledge these credentials as readi
i ly iii the great hum and whirl OF the
e worlds activity as by the peaceful
n heartiistone. Suci q confidence il
e necessary to n healthy and growing
e age