The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-02-24
THE PUBLIC CONSCIENCE.

The Public conscience is but a
composite photograph of the individ-
ual citizen. Its makeup is determined
by the number subjecting themselves
to the camera. Every man who reads
every original thinker, and every one
publicly expressing a view, is ar ex-
posure.
1T is said that corruption wins
more than honesty, and the Individ-
ual conscience. when not engaged in
passing judgment upon public or pri-
vate coduet, may be said to be right.
This is clearly demonstrated by the
applause, which, in every theater is
accorded the hero, and the kissing
which follows the conduct Of the viii
liam. It is not difficult to regulate
other peoples condunt, or to obtain
a right expression as to their conduit
"All life appears to be periodic
There is progress and then a retro
grade movement. Yet, ever, there is
an advance, however slight, from
year to year. Every phase Of life
Is like the pendulum Of clock. 1t
swings through it's arc from ultra
conservatism to ultra radicalism,
Snd, unfortunately If il paused at
the golden mean time, 30 far as rec
ord Il concerned, would be no more.
III the municipality and in the nation
we have these periods Of great public
awakening and the conscience Of the
people discloses only the fairer fea-
tures Of the Individual There is such
d period now In American public life
The public conscience approves an
demands right things and right men.
This is good; this augurs we'll. Do
you ask men will It ae vitalized in
legislation and public life2 Ny an
swer is-it depends. Sin is too much
what the other fellow does. "Ortho-
doxy is my doxy, heterodoxy is your
doxyn 1t is easy and satisfying 70
applaud the here and to Miss the viii
liam. 1t is not easy to admit that you
may be the william and he may be the
hero. Democracy stands for equal
and exact justice to all men, and spec
ial privileges to none. of 60 our
hats to the sentiment and We beam
with satisfaction over the thought
that we believe in it. But suppose
I the crystallization Of the conscience
/ into law and business should lessen
/ dividends, decrease incomes, lessen
the value Of a dollar, increase the
value of man-then, is there not
danger Of a new public conseience2
May we not be compelled to close our
/ theaters. to lose our heroes and our
william, to take new photograph
wherein may appear the keen eye Of
+ the man who feels that he can look
after me better than I can loo kafter
myself, and the pallid face Of the mar
who feels that it is perhaps better to
be looked after by some one else thar
lit is to take poverty's chance?
"The trumpet call of public con-
science today is not to the meek and
the lowly { but to the high and mighty
Since the world began business and
wealth have had no such opportunity
for the Angel Of the Lord to write
names down beside that Of Aoou Ben
I Adhem as they have just now. There
may be lessening Of dividends, they
may not be able to drive 50 many men
II If they listen to his conscience, but
lin listening tc.it they win behold Z
miracle. and that miracle will be tha
those whom they used to drive will
under the changed conditions, follow
them gladly. The world must be led
! The hour has almost gone whenit car
be driven.
Happy the Democrat who, in tht
hour Of peace, will sacrifice somt
what Of his power, not for the larger
but for the common good These mer
can make the ideals Of the Republic
real if they will. Let them try th'
yoke Of Brotherhood and if they d
not find the yoke easy and the bur
den light, it will not be hard to dis
lcard it. plead for this because jus
now. il is the Public Conscience; un
needed. it will become the Public