Evening star., 1924-06-10

individual or sectional interests.
swarms Of lobbyists infest every cap
ital. seeking the promotion of some
special interest with callous disre-
gard of that paramount benefit. the
general welfare. Not merely by
veiled threats, but with brutal de;
mands. they threaten candidates and
political parties with defeat unless
their wishes are complied with. These
demands are so persistent that re-
fusal arouses opposition against the
administration or party in power, so
that now the strongest force in
political contests is the reaction
against those who have responsible
ity in shaping governmental policies,
though the outs" or those in oppo-
same Hnyielding stand If they were
intrusted with authority. 1t is easier
to criticize than to construct; far
easier to promise than to perform.
The propagandist is everywhere
would that their numbers might d.
minish!-and so partisan is he that
arguments favorable to his cause are
eagerly accepted as heaven born in
functions. while opposing arguments
are treated as emanations from the
triotism irrational agitation based
upon hypocrisy or Ignorance some-
times displaces reason and truth.
"Oh. that there might 'mongst
Propagandists be
A duty on hypocrisy,
A tax on humbug,
An impost on dreary platitudeS
A stamp athwart the mouth
or every one that ranted."
Patronage Hit.
Never more than now have there
been such insistent demands for spe-
cial advantages, privileges of every
nature, bonuses, pensions, increased
salaries-some of which are well de-
served-new bureaus with troops of
are called. All these are based upon
the erroneous idea that our govern
ment is a paternalistic institution
doing out favorS without stint to all
corners who can muster votes. The
tendency is to impose burdens too
heavy to bear upon the ordinary citi-
zen, the forgotten man." who, toll
ing quietly. at home, seeks no favors,
but only asks tho friendly protection
of government which is just and
we shall become a people abounding
in preferred classes, the burden of
whose privileges must rest with
crushing weight upon the great body
of our citizenship. 1t is necessary
for us to meet this present situation
with a clarion call to all to think
more of duties and less of rights and
privileges. more Of duties to the state
and to humanity.
Dfstrust Of Government Protested,
Speaking of all good and thought
1 must enter a solemn protest against
the impression, recently created, that
there is widespread corruption In the
government at Washington 1t is
true that out of all the investiga-
tions, pursued in every direction.
there have been exposed to the scorn
of the country instances Of bribery
and dishonesty on the part Of public
officials. and Of cupidity and over
reaching on the part of those who
to debauch those in office. 1t is true
that the whole world was she'll
shocked by the war and has not yet
recovered its equilibrium: that the
effect of this great conflict, with its
convulsions and changes, its untried
and stupendous problems, has tenn
porarily weakened the moral fiber of
humanity and diminished here and
there that high regard for the die
tates Of LOYALTY and honesty in pub
ever been the ideal OF the nation.
Violent changes have brought to
light unworthy motives and q grasp
ing avarice. But the heart Of the
gross influences that accompany and
follow every war will pass away.
Our highest duty in the midst Of all
these rumors of iniquity is to punish
the guilty, but at the same time con-
denim exaggeration and protect the
innocent.
1t is an infamous crime to seek to
destroy the confidence Of the Ameri-
can people in the government under
which they live. There is no criminal
who is more false to decency and
honor than the man who would be-
smirch the name Of honest citizens
or distort the truth for partisan ad-
vantage or personal exploitation. It
is a most grievous wrong to broad
the rnouthings Of criminals and SIAN
derers who would seek to scatter the
slime OF their own imag1nAtfons ana
hatreds. Among the thousands OF
legislative halls, in administrative po-'
sitions, in all the complicated ma
chinery of the government II was
never true, and it Is not true today,
that there is any considerable num-
majority Of public officials, from the
highest in the land to the humblest
clerk in any department, are working
honestly and faithfully for the public
good. 1t is time to call a halt
upon indiscriminate scandolmonger-
ing. which is largely designed to in
suit the intelligence and undermine
the patriotism of the American peo-
pie. But let us not be misunderstood
This il no reflection upon any tinves-
tigator who in good faith is seeking
to expose crime OF any other dere-
liction among public servants. The
guilty individual, whether he be high
or low, Democrat or Republican, must
suffer the ,severest punishment. Upon
this proposition the Republican party
stands firm as a rock. Yet let it be
known that guilt knows no party.
Those who seek to bring malign in
nuences upon public servants make
no political distinction, either in the
off1cia1s whom they approach or in
tho lawyers whom they hire.
TAira rWtx MSve mt.
LoE ~ not take . psssfmfst3o v30W
q ShiS s1tuAdon. Prom m akDo-
sphere Of suspicion and distrust and