Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1910-10-28
well" vouchsafed Caleb, grudging-

thing you've said so far. But you're
wrong for all that. You talk about
honesty. What's honesty? The pious
Pilgrim Fathers came here and swim
died old Lo, the poor Indian, out OF
his country in a blamed sight more
raw fashion than I've ever bamboozled
the people of the Mountain State
And the Mountain Staters were will
ing while the Indian wasn't. Yet the
old settlers are called nation builders
and martyrs and a lot of other hot.
air titles, and they get statues put up
to their memories. How about the
Uncle Sans buying whole nation of
Filipinos and coolly telling 'em: I'm
bossing your islands now. Listen to
me while l soften your rebellious
hearts with the blessed gospel of the
gatling gum Yet Uncle Sans all
right. Sos John Bull, who done the
same trick, only worse, in India and
Egypt. No ones going to call Ameri-
ca or England or the Pilgrim Fathers
dishonest and crooks, is there? Then
why do you cal Caleb Conover dis
honest for doing the same thing, only
a lot more squarely and mercifully?
The crook of to-day is the hero of to-
morrow. And Pm no crook at that.
Why, son, hundred years from now
there's liable to be a statue stuck up
somewhere of Caleb Conover, Rail-
roader, Champion of the People,
Honesty, Ell? What you call hon
esty' is Just sort of weakened vir-
tue meaning lack of chance to be
something else. TIonester tnan me-
means less chance than me-. The
honestest community on earth, accord
ing to you reformers' way Of think
ing, is in the State Penitentiary. For
not a crime of any sorts committed
there from ones years end to the
other"
Conover chuckled softly to himself,
then continued:
"And there's something else about
me that ought to make 'em sculp a
halo onto that same statue. What I've
done to build up my pile I've done
open and with all the cards on the
table. l have called a spade spade.
and l haven't referred to it, vague
the Lord in as silent partner on my
deals. What I've took I've took, and
I've said, 'Whatcher going to do about
it?' I've won out by strength, and
amt ashamed of my way OF playing
the game l haven't talked through
my nose about being one of the noble
class picked out by Providence to
watch over the wealth that poor
folks'd have had the good Of if | hadn't
grabbed it from 'em. And / haven't
tried to square myself On High by en-
dowing colleges and heathens and
libraries and churches. | guess sim
ner's hush-money don't make so much
of hit with the Almighty as these
philanthropist geezers seem to think
1t will. What I've given I've given on
the quiet an where it'd keep folks
from the poorhouse. When it comes
to the final showdown on Judgment
Day, I've a sneaking notion the out
and-out pirate-me, If you like-will
win out by about seven lengths over
the holy hypocrite. That's another
reason why l tell you you're wrong
when you say l amt honest. ! don't
hope to convince you by any of the
words I've been wasting. If you were
the sort Of man reason could reach
you wouldn't be a reformer I've
squandered enough time on you for
one evening. Save all the pat replies
that l can see you're bursting with,
and spring 'em at your next meeting.
I've no time to listen to 'em now.
Good night"
Unceremoniously as he had entered
the room h quilted it, leaving STAN
dish to go as he would.
Il talked more'n I have since that
fool speech of mine at the reception"
muttered the Railroader as he clat-
tered down the broad staircase. But
/ steered him off from the chance to
say what he really wanted to, and
lodged any scene that would be Of use
to him In his campaign. Too bad he's
Reformer! He's got red blood in
him, the young idiot. Yes, and he's
not such an idiot either II 1t comes to
that"
Give Standish, descending the
stairs moment later, puzzled, disap-
pointed, vaguely aware that he had
somehow been tricked, heard the
shout of a groom and the laundering
beet Of Dunderberg's flying hoofs
along the gravel of the drive.
'If he was as much master of the
situation, and as content with himself
as he tried to make me think" re-
fected Give as he passed out into the
darkness, he'd never ride like that"
Wearied, Standish returned late to
his own rooms. His man said, as he
helped the candidate of with his light
covert coat:
"a messenger boy brought letter
for you, sir, about an hour ago. He
said there was no answer. l left it on
your desk"
Give picked up the typewriter en-.
tail