New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1911-02-18
THE PUBLIC CONSCIENCE

THE PUBLIC CONSCIENCE.
The subjoined letter was writ
ter expressly for the National
Monthly Of New York by Coy.
Thos r. Marshall Of Indiana:
''The Public Conscience is but
a composite photograph Of the
private cOnscienceS Of individual
citizens. Its makeup is determn-
ed by the number Subjecting them
selves to the camera Every man
who reads. every original thinker,
and every one publicly expressing
a view, is an exposure.
II is said that corruption WINS
more than honesty, and the ind :
viduaI conscience when not engag-
ed in passing judgment upon pu0-
lie or private conduct. may be
said to be right. This is clearly
dcmonstrabIe by the applause.
which. in every thcater is accord
ed thu hero, and the Kissing which
follows the conduct Of The villain
1t is not difficult to regulate other
people $ conduct, or to obtain a
right expression as tC. their con
duct.
All life appears to be periodic.
There IS progress and then a re
troerade movement. Yet, ever,
there is an advance. however
slight. from year to year. Every
phase Of life is like the pendulum
of a clock. 1t swings through lis
are from ultra conservatism to
ultra radicaliSm. and, unfortunate
~. if ii paused at the golden mean,
time. SO far as its record Is CON
cerned. would be no more. In the
municipality and IN the nation we
have these periods Of great publ {
awakening. and the conscience Of
the people discloses only the far
er features of the individual.
There is such period now IN
American public life. The pub
lie conscience approves and de
mandS right things and right m an.
This is good; this augurs We'll. DO
YOU ask me VIII il be vitalzed III
legislation and public life My
answer is-it depends. Sin Is too
much what the other fellow does.
Orthodoxy is my doXy: hetero-
doxv is Your doxy' It is easy
and satisfying to applaud thu hero
and to hiss the villain. II is not
easy to admit that You may be the
villain and he may be the hero.
Democracy stands for equal and
exact just'ca to all men. and spec
ia, privileges 10 none. OFF 90 our
hats to the sentiment and We beam
with satisfaction over the thought
that we believe in it. But sui,
pose the disqualification Of the
conscience into law and business
should lessen dividends. decrease
incomes. lessen the value OF dol
lar. increase the value of a man
then. is there not danger OF a
new public conscience May we
not be compelled to close our the
alters to lose our heroes and our
villains. to take new photograph
wherein may appear the keen eye
of the man who feels that he can
look after me better than | can
look after myself. and the pallid
face of the man who feels that it
is perhaps better to be looked af
ter by some one else than it 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 their names
down beside that of Abou Ben Ad-
hem as they have Just now There
nav be lessening of dividends,
they may not be abe to drive so
many men if they listen to this
but in listening to it.
hey will behold miracle. and |
hat miracle will be that those
whom they used to drive will I'M
Ter the changed conditions, fol
ow them gladly. The world must |
be led. The hour has almost gone
when it can be driven.
Happy the Democrat who. in the
lour of peace, will sacrifice some
What Of his power, not for the
arger. but for the common good.
These men can make the ideals OF
he Republic real if they will. Let
hem try the yoke Of Brotherho
nd if they do not find the yoke
asy and the burden light, it will
lot be hard to discard it. | plead
or this because. just now, it is
he Public Conscience; unheeded.
will become the Public Wrath. :