The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-02-23
HUGHES SPEAKS.
New York Governor at Penn
Sylvania University.
ON R0TTENNESS IN POLITICS.
He Says the Problem Is to Secure
the Honest and Faithful Per-
formance of Public
Obligation.
ON ROTTENNfSS IN POLITICS.

Philadelphia. Feb. -. Governor
Charles Il. Hughes of New York was
enthusiastically welcomed by a great
assemblage at the University of Penn
sylvania today, where he made the
leading address ut the Washington
birthday celebration. He said:
THE problem of America today is
to secure honest and faithful per
fOrmance OF public obligation. The
demands of administration grow, but
human capacities and frailties remain
unchanged. In our villages, cities and
states and in the nation the burdens
of governmental duties increase and
the opportunities for the neglect and
betrayal of the interests of the people
multiply.
We have been sickened with the
corruption that rots public enterprise
and with the spectacle of legislative
halls and administrative offices turned
into market places. where the exer-
else of governmental powers is made
the subject OF barter and sale.
ment. But how shall we improve the
quality of representation? The value
of criticism is not TO be ignored. But
can we trust the critics with the Of
fees? How shall we be sure not only
of the arraignment of evil, but of the
substitution OF good? How may we
not merely condemn, hut also inn
prove?
How. indeed, save by infusing the
young men of the country with the
spirit of Washington and thus assur-
ing constant and cordial response TO
the ihlperatiyes of honor? How, save
by developing that sense of obligation
and that invincible loyalty to trust
which made Washington not simply a
military hero and a popular and trust
ed leader in critical period of his
tory. but beyond that the incarnation
of public virtue and the type forever
in this nation and all others of the
true public seryant-the ideal repre-
sentative of the peopleI
Despite the extent Of political cor
ruption. at no time have the American
people been more insistent upon po-
litical purity. We should judge the
standards Of the people not by those
who disgrace our politics, but by the
insistent and growing demand that
political action shall be free from self
ish control and that there shall be
faithful representation in every de-
partment of government.
1T is not the hour of triumph of the
powers of darkness. but of the regen-
erative influences Of light. Education
is winning its victories for the COM
mon good, and each year the armies
OF truth. justice aud fidelity are re-
enforced by vigorous young manhood
well disposed to follow the counsels of
self restraint and TO earn the substan-
tial rewards OF earnest and sober liv-
ing.
The most significant feature OF our
present life is not the widespread ex-
istence of evil. but the organized eff
forts TO check it; not the regrettable
display of avarice, but the determine
tion to protect the public interest
against overreaching cupidity; not the
waste of lives in luxurious idleness,
but the magnitude of fruitful en-
deaVor; not the prevalence of vice and
misery, but the extension of refOrma-
| tory agencies and the organization Of
philanthropy; not civic Indifference,
however lamentable may be its scope,
but the widening demands OF public
| spirit and the more emphatic assertion
/ OF community rights; not political
manipulation, but the indignation OF
the people at its abuses; not faithless
| legislators and administrative officials,
but the resentment which they arouse
| and the narrowing range of their H.
( licit activities,
I "Malign power, intrenched in well
1 fortified citadels, may here and there
successfully resist attack, but grad
/ The people are naturally restive under
I known abuses and may be impatient
I in demanding remedy, albeit divid-
/ ed as TO the nature OF the remedy
/ which will prove effective.
but the expression of a strong pub
lie sentiment with respect to disclosed
wrong is not to be confused with hys,
terical excitement. nor should demand
simply for needed correctives be
/ thought an evidence OF revolutionary
tendency. The people OF this free
land are competent TO govern them
selves by reason of their essential con
Rervatism and because their sober
judgment In critical emergencies may
lac trusted. They know that pros