The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1908-11-06

he wasn't OF much use to anybody I'M
til after he was dead. This wisdom
slightly overplays its hand. Rich men,
while still alive, furnish good texts, and
many sermon, many lecture, might
be based upon them.
AS I've explained, the ArchboIds are
not to blame for the Archbolds. The
public is to blame for them. You
have wondered, doubtless, as I have
wondered, at thick-head Archbold in
sensibility that should educate such as
the Joe Sibleys on its payrolls to speak
contemtuously Of the public as the
rabble." And yet it is the public
itself, in the hat-dofing Difference it
pays these rich rascals, and the leg
freedom from bolts and bars it permits
them, that teaches them to despise the
public as the rabble,' and think of it,
speak of it, write OF it as such.
There is no threat that so menaces
this country as the ignorance of the
rich; and yet it is the public itself
which both POUNDS and fosters that rich
ignorance. And so our great Cap
tains of Industry" being ignorant, be-
come mass of pretense, affectation,
conceit. They wax as vain as so many
prince-petted, grease-paint soubrettes.
AS l once observed, while considering
Mr.. Hartman, they suffer from what
the alienists describe as exaggerated
ego." At the close OF a hard-fought
day on change they drive to their
clubs, the Union League, the Knicker-
booker, the Union. They walk thru
the rooms, speaking to no one, nodding
to no one, wrapped in that mantle of a
wordless, sightless abstraction which, as
they conceive, is the proper gar
menture Of your truly great.
For all that pretended abstraction,
however, their vanity-bitten ears are on
the strain. AS they pass, the sibilant
whispers 60 round:
There's Archbold! That's Morgan!
Here comes Schwab!''
These whispers of awe and admira-
ton are to them the veriest incense Of
the ear. In them they find the cheap
echo Of their power. Also, it is the
conceit thus pampered that teaches
our rich bindings to defy law, scorn
control, and treat a "rabble" public
with contempt.
The public!
It has the inane place in their con-
sideration that belongs with an inane
flock of sheep which are presently to
be shorn by whomsoever may happen
cwn them. They would as soon think
of consulting the public as would the
sheep man of consulting the sheep.
What rights have either beyond the
right Of being shorn2
Do you suppose that, if the public
were in the habit Of sending "respecta-
BILE" criminals to Jail, the Archbolds
would offer brides or the Forakers take
them2 Never!
But these respectable" malefactors,
high in government, high in money,
know they may commit their crimes in
safety and not chance of loss. Dis
covery means nothing worse than just
a moment Of chagrin. 1t spells no Jail
troubles. 1t is prelude to no setbacks
in either church, society or trade.
Here we have an example. Brides are
offered, brides are accepted. The proof
is perfect. Spider Archbold confesses;
fly Foraker admits the crime. There
the thing will end.
This social and business safety,
which makes secure our respectable"
rascals in their villainies, may all be
laid to that same indifference of the
public. Our respectable" bandits re-
main as certain of their business place,
as sure of their social standing, as Sc
cure Of their personal safety, as though
they had done nothing more than run
a monte game in Mexico. Such down
hill conditions hint at low ebb of
money morals; a decadence of social,
political, business ideals that should be
reckoned among the worst signs of the
times.
Knowing somewhat of human nature
do not wonder that brides and black