Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-09-05
THE ISSUE is MORAL.

All sorts of subterfuges are being resorted to in
order to conceal the that the battle now on
in the republican party is fight over moral issue
strong effort is made to have it appear that it
is merely a party muss stirred up by the Journal
in the interest of vague and unannounced as
piration for office On the part of its editor.
His fitness for leadership and his motives are
pushed into prominence and kept there in the hope
that personal hostility may be aroused to mini
mize his influence.
None of these things are in any sense an issue
We are not a candidate for office. If we ever are
the people will be in position to veto our aspira
tons if they desire, provided succeed in re-
storing to the hands of the people the control OF
their party government. So no one need be misled
by any fight on
We make this statement because the interests,
whose pretensions antagonizing, have issued
orders to the kept press to assal and to destroy
our influence, if possible through dlscrediting u.s.
These assaults we ignoring because we are
not the issue and we will not be distracted from
plan to constructivey press home the imperative
need of breaking the undue power of the few and
the stepping forward, upon program of progress
of the party.
To rob Of their purses is universally recog-
nized as immoral and has been so recognized for
hundreds of years. To rob men OF their personal
physical liberty is similarly recognized as illegal
except upon legal conviction for a crime against
lively recent times. For instance until in recent
decades Imprisonment for debt legal and Gus
tomary 1t was thought then to be moral although
we have advanced to point where its i'm
morality is patent to all.
Time was when buying votes and stealing ballot
boxes was regarded as "shrewd" and be it said with
shame there are still communities in America where
it is practced with popular approval. But it is
nevertheless the grossest and vlest form of inn
morality An enlightened public opinion always
condemns it unqualifiedly.
! To gain political ascendency by intrigue, until
a small group of men control the destiny of peo-
pie parcelling out the offices themselves franz
ing laws giving them special privileges and exemp-
tions under the law. thereby gaining immense eco
nomic advantages over the masses Of the people Is
as complete thievery and is immoral the
stealing of purse. Yes, much more so.
An enlightened public sentiment quickly put
an end to all this. Public sentiment once aroused
upon these questions, quickly stimulates tho moral
sensbilities and the conscience of these so-called
leaders,
Two things are needed. First, all rght-mnded
people must turn propagandists We need evan
gests preaching the gospel of civic Righteousness
to the people and like the prophets of old speaking
in scathing terms of those who plot against Gods
anonted people.
Second, we need practical political cohesion with
all who believe in civic righteousness standing
unit, with all minor differences put aside, until with
a solid wall of right thinking and women, the
assailants of the peoples rights driven hack.
The issue is moral. Do not pride yourself upon
too much self-righteousness if you now fail in your
duty as decent citizen.