San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-25
A WARNING TO POLITICIANS

Every man who has any hankering
for political career should subject him
self to a simple test to be found in the
Old Testament. Not that it is useful
only in political life 1t may be profit
ably applied in all fields, but its use
ought to be prerequisite to the question
of general qualifications for office as
they are usually defined. In the light
of recent political developments, par
ticularly. this test impressively cont
mends itself:
BE sure your sin will find YOU out"
Some people are honest by nature !:
Others, by necessity still others. through
fear. And in the strictly philosophical
sense, as distinguished from the religi-
GUS, wrong is something that is asso-
ciated in memory with unpleasant ex-
periences-"harm' that has come, as a
rule, from certain acts, and that may
therefore be expected to result from
such acts whenever they may be COM
mitted. So. it should be easy for any
sane person to know right from wrong.
But there are many people who suf-
fer no discontinue from their wrong
doing. even in this concrete sense; I'm
less they are found out. 1t Is detection
that they fear. If they feel safe from
detection, they can hold their heads up
and look. the world straight in the eye
as though they were the most upright
people on earth
With large measure OF truth it might
be said that the wrong doer in any field
is more likely to be found out than not
In most fields. however. those who are
harmed or who may be harmed by the
wrong-doer are limited as to both num-
bers~and classes. But not so in politics,
The politician who walks in iniquity.
or even near it. is harming. or putting
himself in a position to harm. every
other human being in the land. Natural
", then. all eyes are upon him. whereas
the eyes of only few, comparatively,
are upon the wrong-doer in lesser
field
A man might commit murder. and
citizens in distant part OF the country
might not be conscious of having been
wronged by him; they might not even
hear of his act.
A United States government official,
or even ex-official. falls into alleged ir-
or becomes connected in some
remote way with affairs in which dis
honesty is suspected of. having been a
factor-and what is the public's atti-
tude toward him? Millions OF people.
with no interests in common save those
defined by wholesome sense OF public
service, distrust him.
Public suspicion is the strongest wind
that blows.
Political reputation is the most deli
cate flower that grows.
A man may not be innately honest.
He may have an Unborn tendency toward
dishonesty. But at the same time he
may be capable and efficient; may have
an inherent talent or have been trained
for given kind of work So. il his
selfishncss is restrained dishonesty
is simply form of selfishness-he may
be of service to society
Wherefore, if all aspirants ! to and
holders of public office would subject
themselves rigidly to the biblical test.
and determine to heed invariably the
warning thus afforded. they could save
themselves from falling victims to any
tendency toward dishonesty that may
abide within them. No greater truth
than this was ever recorded. and there
is no other field than politics to which
it applies more broadly or with higher
degree of certainty:
BE sure your sin will find you out"