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8 The Conservative.
INTKGIUTY.
[ Written for TIIK COXSKIIVATIVK by A. B.
Fnrquhnr , of York , Ponns.vlvnnia. ]
I nin earnestly of the opinion tlinfc
nothing , even in politics , that is not
identified with righteousness , can attain
a lasting success When we oppose im
perialism , protectionism , unsound cur
rency , or lavish public expenditure , it
ought to bo because they are opposed to
the principles of fair dealing between
man and man , and the same motive
ought , to penetrate every political view
we entertain and guide us in every po
litical act. On nil points of national
policy our aim should be to apply a
higher and sounder morality , and so en
list under a standard which though
"crushed to earth will rise again. " We
must strive for right and fair dealing ;
not for the cause that is likely to suc
ceed to-morrow but for the cause that
is sureto succeed permanontly. We
may well labor with a minority for a
time , being secure of a majority here
after. There has never been such op
portunity as now for the embodiment of
integrity in politics , and the very name
of sound money expresses the form of it
most needful to the time while symbol
ising all the rest. Our nature is spirit
ual , but all the right and sacredness of
our relations are to be earned out
through matter. Money , though in it
self essentially material , calls on the ut
most of our virtue in private relation erin
in public.
But how stands the case with regard
to this fundamental question of public
morals this most vitally important of
political issues ? The battle for honest
money has often been said to be already
won , and yet it is only partially won.
As seriously as ever the cause needs the
most strenuous efforts of its champions ,
so long as the law continues to permit
any secretary of the treasury ( if sup
ported by the president ) to establish the
silver unit of value at his pleasure so
long as a further coinage of silver dollars
lars , in addition to the 400,000,000 al
ready uselessly and wastefully coined ,
can be bought , or rushed or sneaked
through congress so long as conspic
uous statesmen call maintenance of the
nation's credit and gold standard by the
cowardly nickname of "preserving the
parity of the two metals. " The present
republican administration , called to
power by the sound money sentiment
what will it do in presence of this need ?
I have little hope that it will do any
thing. The administration can afford
to dodge the question , and therefore
will. The dominant party in congress
can dodge the question , and therefore
will. One of the most unfortunate con
sequences of the present moral bank
ruptcy of the donocratic party is that
the republicans feel assured of the sxip-
port of the sound money sentiment of
the country regardless of what they do ,
and exempt from all obligation to win a
continuance of that support by doing
anything to deserve it. They argue that
any positive eifort in any direction is
bound to raise enemies , and it is policy
to make no such positive effort so long
as they know that supporters will not bo
converted into opponents by simply de
clining such a duty. Just that situation ,
so delightful to the politician , the ad
ministration and its party now occupy ;
to all. appearance consenting that their
record of solid service for the cause that
won them victory and office shall re
main a blank. Yet the worst evils of
unbridled protectionism are trifling in
comparison with a vitiated currency
which pollutes the very source of na
tional honor and good faith. Imperial
ism is but superficial , while a rotten
money system corrupts a country to the
core.
core.Nor
Nor is the outlook less dismal when
we turn from nation to state in our re
view of this triumphant party. No
where has it firmer hold of power , or is
faith in it deeper seated , than in Penn
sylvania. And yet it is just here that a
plurality of voters , reaching well into
six figures , has enthusiastically elevated
to the governor's chair a man best
known by his subserviency to an un
scrupulous boss ; and just here that two-
thirds of the republican legislators ,
borne on by the same party current ,
have now nominated that boss to fill
again the high position his vices dis
graced. Such an honor , to a man in the
"gates ajar" of the penitentiary , seems
like either a grim Mephistophelean jest ,
or the lowest abyss of all American pol
itics. It was our state's capitol that so
lately resounded to the sycophant praises
of this precious leader , where his biogra
phy was luridly portrayed , where a long
line of his ancestors was brought oiit to
endow him , each with his several gift ,
where every favorite epithet of adula
tion ' ' brilliant" ' 'matchless' ' ' ' ' '
, , daring' ,
and a hundred more wore dropped upon
him like a shower of gold and all
swept us like a flood until we noted that
in this dazzling whirl of powers and vir
tues the orators had not included the
one plain "honest. " Would they not
have spoken that word if they had
dared ? Most assuredly. Knowing that
nothing can so win the fixed regard of
the people as integrity , no charm would
they use so .gladly if they could. Yet
now , like unhappy Cassim in the den of
forty thieves , they were without the one
vital . This veritable
pass-word. paral
ysis , which , whatever fools may be
painted solons or hypocrites saints , bars
his most servile follower from showing
a knave as honest , here. seemed as
though God , present in oven their dark
souls , was testifying his silent self and
work. But when there is mention of
our true leaders , how different the story !
First to the lips rises "honest , " the fore
most of virtues , the rest following as
they may find their place.
Such a true leader , one whose integ
rity will come to mind with his name ,
wo now seek in Pennsylvania. Away
with the more adroit politician the one
who can meet the cunning republican
boss on his own ground , and contest
with him at his own game. Send us his
polar opposite the man whose contrasts
with the Quay type are widest , bright
est , clearest one who is true where he
is false , lion where he is fox , mountain
where he is hummock. Surely our leg
islature can think of one such , even
though its choice is confined to republi
cans ; and we can hardljT expect this
year an anti-republican senator from
Pennsylvania , notwithstanding the flat
tering delusions into which some demo
crats have been beguiled by the wily
enemy. It is an easy device of the Quay
gamesters to hold the democratic minor
ity as firm as the caricatured democratic
mule , if they can , while they tire out
the opposition under their own flag into
finally uniting , if it may not be upon
their own adored chieftain , at least
upon some substitute who can be trusted
to represent their kind of politics. To
foil that device , the broadest and mor
ally soundest , course is the one to follow
join with the best republicans to
choose the best republican for senator ,
and prove to the watching common
wealth that democratic votes may con
tribute to set a new fashion in such elec
tions , and give the Keystone state at last
a representation in the upper house of
whom none of her sons need bo ashamed.
If patriotism is not true enough and
foresight not keen enough among the
democrats representing our mighty state
to guide them to this wise and benefi
cent course , the onljr hope for state and
nation is to form a now party not tram
meled by the vices of the old , while
freelj- appropriating what is best in
each. I hope to call your attention
again to this subject , which is too vast
and momentous for the end of a letter
already too long.
Instead of cursing all who have
worked , saved and accumulated wealth ,
how would it do for some of the popu-
listic orators and editors of Nebraska
to , themselves , go to work , stop wasting
and begin saving ? After a few years of
self-reliance and self-denial , by indus
try , they might become worth self-
damning as a part of "the money
power. "
The discussion of embalmed beef for
army consumption as conducted by de
baters Miles and Eagan will soon become
a putrid reminiscence. Latest asser
tions seem to indicate that some sort of
chemical experimentation may possibly
have been exercised on beef intended
for the army of the United States in
tropical campaigns.
