Evening journal., 1910-07-02
SATURDAY, JULY 2. 1910
HUGHES ON pEMoCRAcY.


feryid address before the Phi Beta Kappa
Society. the honor men OF the graduating
classes Governor Hughes, of New York, spoke
OF some aspects OF our democracy reviewing what
he termed the tendency in modern lie towards
lack Of integrity among public oiheials. he
Governor depored the increasing disposition to
find fault with such officials. lie also insisted
that the real problem is to concentrate power in
public life instead OF dividing It.
Others besides Governor Hughes have COM
planned of the criticisms of public men, but the
complaints are heard more In New YORK Oiy
than elsewhere In New York criticisms are
carried to the extreme A person habitualy read
ing the New York newspapers and the speeches
of politicians in that state would think that there
was little good in any men holding place. The
criticism NAV be moderate and within bounds
or il may be violently abusive and iisreputabe
like that which appears IN the Hearst newspa-
,9e faea tna whole however we do not Snk public
veioped O,eybe Years ago abuse lo' ~ men Of
osrt he those Of aAatatf 4 p HE1 rule and
not the exception. SID the criticism took suSn
form as would not be tolerated by decent puo-
lie sentiment of to-day.
The Governor thinks that democracy will pros
per only through the discipline of virtue, me
common appreciation of Justice ani the wiling
ness of rs members to devote themselves 20 INC INC.
public veal This is correct II IS common sI
rrecistion az Justice that is making such head
,,av an,onp the masses. that is accountable TOT
The increasing public sentiment that demands
square deal all round
Sneakine from his ample experience in the eN-
ecutive chair at Albany the Governor thinks tnat
while exposure Of corruption IS untarhngy oe-
nounced II is lamentably true that we do not
have that measure of continuous and unrelenuns
resistance 10 corrupt influences which we have
4, r,oht 10 e,,pect from citizens. The man
who will not corrupt public officials, says MI
Hughes if he believes himself sure from as
coverv in order to protect his business OF 70 se'
what he wants or perhaps thinks ne shoua ndNS'
is unhappiy too rare.
This s a startling statement, but we are in
olned TO think that the man who will not resort
10 corrupt influences is not rare as the Gov
ernor fancies Certainly there are many men III
business who try to conduct their affairs in an
nprieht manner and who scorn to hand out inc
brbe They may suffer in the, conflict with un-
scrnnulous competitors, but they have clear
ccinscenoe in the end and that is oeuer' lar oeV
= ter than III gotten gain
What the Governor says of the Indifferent
response Of the public to the efforts in fighting
corruption is true. Indifference is the great evi
OF our political system Let the people be full,
aroused and made to grasp the moral points of an,
conflict between right and wrong and they ar
pretty sure to be with the right. If they wer
not there would be little hope for the bettermen
of the nation. But indifference is all too com
nnon Governor Fort at a recent speech de
avered at the Lafayette College Commencement
touched upon the point when he SAID tina
=-he had often been urged TO take stand on thu
U.r that question with support promised him. ou
Eulhen he assumed the position he found that hi
supporters and those who had been crying te
him to pursue a certain course were often
the back ground fearing to come out IN IN
- open and face the music. Perhaps every othe
a man in public life has had the same experience
he There are always fellows willing TO let the othc
man hold the bag. How often is that witnesse
in politics.
Governor Hughes condemned the efforts to 81
cure and hold special privileges and recalled III;
the fight had always been between democrat
and privileges and it always will be. That It is
in this country today is evidenced by an arouse
public sentiment We are making more headws
against special privilege than ever before al
there is nothing greatly discouraging about Il
cause OF the people
The most discouraging thing that has be-
noticed lately, was the abandoning OF the hg
BY Governor Hughes himself when he decided
seek the seclusion and quiet Of the Supren
Court bench. II needs men like Hughes to wa
~ the war against privilege and it must be co
fessed they arc few and far between