Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-05-24
Folly No Longer a Virtue.

| From time to time we have callet
attention to strengthening forces o
those arrayed against evil; the mum
| Der of men of national reputation
and the number of newspapers ant
magazines, that are now outspoken II
their opposition to the liquors ant
drugs traffic, white slave traffic
gambling. etc. Nowhere in the United
States is this evidence Of progressive
principle more apparent than in the
63d Congress. a study of the per,
sonnet is convincing that the people
of this country are not only demand
ing fixed and open moral principle in
their representatives, but that they
promptly allow their resentment to De
known when their representative or
senator, by voice or vote, places him
self as in sympathy with the hosts oil
greed and debauchery.
The day has passed when men,
however brilliant, may in public life
openly show their little wiekedness-
es" and laugh about it together as
if boasting of their untamed animal
ism. The day has come when these
things are not accepted as evidences
of talent. humor or open living be-
in
dulge in lustful orgies; any IDIOT may
make himself not only more idiotic
but more of public menace by rem
dering the little brain he has less re-
liable with alcohol; any criminal
without love or pity in his soul may
mislead and destroy the innocent.
But all of these things have ceased to
represent virtues or brillanee in MEN
The people of America. as great
whole, no longer care to be repre-
scented by boozers, sedueers, or other
morally perverted fellows of eduea-
ton and such legal training as rem
ders them capable in the building of
laws. We have reached the stage of
progress where men of more charac.
ter even at the expense of less tai
ent" for spectacular performances be-
fore the world, are in demand.
1t is no longer an evidence of good
with the country's intelli-
gence and character, to stand in.
with the underworld forces. Congress
shows it more and more. legislatures
show it. And that product of the
saloon and criminals in collision, the
political boss" is losing cast before,
and control in, law-making bodies.
Christian Herald remarks:
1t was not so long ago when MEM
bers of Congress We're most sug-
perance, woman suffrage, and labor
questions. and even yet it would not
be hard to find those in both cham
bers who do not blow trumpet to
call attention to their views on such
subjects. But there is a surprising
among both the new and old
members who unhesitatingly take
their places on the side of the right
when a moral issue is brought to the
front Mr. Abercrornbie. the new
member at large from Alabama, is q
deacon in his home church, the Bap.
list, and stands unfiinchingly for
State wide prohibition and for woman
suffrage. Mr.. Charles Thomson is 1t
member of the City Club of Chicago,
the live organization for civic better
ment in the great Western metropolis.
For three terms he has served on the
city council, where he has fought UNI
fiinchingly for civic righteousness,
and he too is an active church man, a
member of the Presbyterian denomi-
nation. Melville Clyde Kelley, elect
ed from the thirtieth Pennsylvania
district editor of the Braddock Daily
News Herald, is widely known for his
Christian activities. He has long
been one of the board of trustees OF
the Presbyterian church of his city
In connection with the Sunday school
of the church, he has one of the larg-
| est Bible classes for young men il
| Mississippi is the son of Baptis
| minister, an earnest church worker
and has made a splendid record in hi.
State in reformatory endeavors.''
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