The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-01-03
The awakened moral consciousness

w yember. THE lovers of men," he
saws, who give themselves to per-
sonal service are sainted. But the
t. haters of iniquity-who fight for
right standards and laws--miss saint
hood. They bear too many scars, are
# the target for too much filth, to vie
h in radiance with the gentle souls who
d comfort the afflicted, but dare not
e strike a blow for the rights sake.
: Nevertheless, your saint without an
5 enemy in the world, is of less worth
: than the stalwart knight of Con-
S science. For the one copes only with
. consequence; the other attacks
s causes. 1t is the difference between
= Father Damein deyoting himself to
the lepers of Molokai, and the Eight
who let themselves be bitten by in
fected mosquitoes to test Major
| Reeds hypothesis of the mosquito
transmission Of yellow fever. Il * s.
! The self sacrifice that yields a humid
red fold is battling with the Media
mites, and the lovers of men are
finding it out. The good starts out
to clothe the naked, and presently
he is grappeling with exploiters and
vice-catchers who produce more
nakedness in day than he can COW
er in year"
Thus, the age-long inarticu( ate cry
| OF humanity in distress, is becoming
articulate; is finding a voice and ex-
preston. Is growing eloquent. The
millions who are today flying signals
OF distress, are encouraged by good
evidence of coming relief.
Hoke Smith of Georgia contribut-
ing sixty thousand dollars to the
movement for local option, is only
one OF many, who have made sacri-
fees for the common veal.
The November "McClure's" says
edltorially: "The financiers are not
themselves able to rob a city; nor
are the head politicians who conspire
with them. Below is the great body
of workers who make it possible; and
these men divide among themselves
as their share the greatest of all the
city plunder-the right to sell i'm
morality in the saloon and its allied
industries. This system when once
understood is exceedingly clear. The
corrupt city official is the product of
4 corrupt political machine; he OBJ
,ains his right to rob the city through =
It's support. He pays for this sup
port by giving back to the ward
leelers-the machines workers-the
privilege to break the laws intended
o diminish vice, and protect the in
locent. And in this way the pro-
ective apparatus of government is
reverted until it actually becomes a
means to increase such agencies of
ocial decentralization as the low
aloon, the disorderly house, and the
ambling resort. II Il
"All these things are significant.
hey show dangerous tendency in
great section of national popula-
on. When all the costs of a GRIM
lal government of the cities of the
nited States are counted, this moral
'st will be appreciated, for what it
rely is-the most appalling of all.
is not the mere robbery of gene
Ition OF men, it is the lowering of
e vitality of a civilization"
McClure's speaks merely of the Is
10000 people of our land who
veil in the large cities, and of their
lminent degeneracy. Other (scores
others) noted students of our So
u problems have voiced the opinion
at the problems that confront the
zee cities, and are a menace to
cir welfare, do not differ in kind.
t only in degree, from the prob
MS which confront our rural COM
mites, and the smaller cities and
yns.
In view of the fact that the best
ought of so many of our best, and
est men has brought them to an
as to the fountain of our
1al, political, and industrial cor
'tion, it would seem to be the mart
wisdom to seek remedy for our
ional illness.
he prohibition territory under
u option is extending rapidly, es-
ally in the south and middle west
almost universally results are re-
ted to be entirely satisfactory
ne is diminished, poverty elimi-
I'd and the social vices, with all
+ train of evil disappearing.
laho! our fair State, destined to
he fairest of the fair, cannot af-
to be one step behind any of
sister states in any good wav
work. Our schools and chur-
and state institutions bear
1pnt witpacc 70 o,,, -.