Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-19
Former Vice Presid en- t
Fairbanks Speaks at
Omaha.
UPHOLDS PRESIDENT
Declares Making Unfounded
Charges Is Cause of the
Growth of Socialism.

Omaha, July 19.-"Men who will
wantonly and maliciously assail our
public servants-no matter what their
political faith may be, and who are
faithful to public duty-are traitors to
the state, no matter how lofty their
hypocritical professions may seem TO
sound" So said former Vice President
Fairbanks in the course of an address
before the Advertising Clubs of Amer
lea today.
Abuse Recent Feature.
zone of the marked features of re
cent years has been the indiscriminate
abuse of men in public position. The
malodorous muck-raker f1ourishes for
a time, but he has come to be an OBJ
ject of contempt, since his recklessness
and insincerity have become manifest.
Abuse of the liberty of the press, the
attempt to malign other men and by
falsehood to destroy their character
whether in private or public life, has
come to be recognized as the blackest
among the entire catalogue of crimes.
mo public official, however high,
should be immune from just criticism.
But they should not be subjected to
much of the abuse that is heaped upon
them by the muck-rakers and sensa-
tionalists, who are actuated only by
sordid, mercenary motives or by some
other equally ungenerous purpose far
short of the public interest.
Should Shield President
There is perhaps nothing more rep
rehensible than the loose impeachment
of the chief executive; the downright
Misrepresentation of his acts; distor-
ton of his record by suppression of
the truth or by pure falsehood. No
possible good can result therefrom; on
the contrary, in the end confidence in
the government itself is undermined
It may be diverting to a certain class
to witness such brutality towards the
head of the nation, but upon sober re-
Election they must perceive the hurt
full results which flow from it and
which, in the final analysis, damage all
alike.
What has been said of the execu-
tive applies with like force to the in
discriminate, reckless assault upon
congress. Like the president, the law
making body should welcome honest
criticism and fair debate, but whole
sale abuse, unfounded Utterance, re-
specting the integrity and patriotism
of those who frame and administer the
peoples laws, beget distrust, want of
confidence and doubt as to the benefi-
cence of the government itself.
Turn Light on If Necessary.
"If measures are devised in special
interest, turn the light upon them and
their authors with unsparing severity.
But we should differentiate with great
care the good from the evil; uphold
those who are devoted to the faithful
and honest discharge of public duty,
and smite without mercy those who be-
tray their public trust. We should not,
however, heap upon all indiscriminate
abuse and thereby bring the govern
ment itself into contempt and disfavor;
nor should we over-emphasize the
wrong and under-emphasize the good
and thereby give as erroneous impress
sion of the true condition of American
life.
1--WE shall find, in the final analysis,
that executives, congresses and legis-
latures are composed of men who are
neither better nor worse than the peo-
pie themselves. When we heap unwar-
ranted abuse upon them and strike
down their hands when we should up
hold them, the injury, of course, is not
entirely personal to them, but in a
large measure falls upon the institu-
tions whose agents they are. 1t is i'm
possible to discredit and destroy the
servants of the state who are worthy
without impairing the state itself.
Causes Growth of Socialism.
Socialism has been making some
headway in recent years. It's progress,
no doubt, is due in a considerable de
gree to a too general Impeachment of
the good faith and the patriotism of
those upon whose shoulders, by our
choice, rest for the time being the deli
cate and difficult responsibilities of
government
I'VE have many questions before us
in the world of politics and in the field
of business. There are some people
who are not free from concern as to
their solution; but it seems to me that
there need be no fear that, no matter
they will be settled in our common in
terest, if we shall bring to their con-
sideration sober-minded and patriotic
judgment"