And more specific reasons press upon us from every
side.
Recently the attention of our people, thanks largely to President
Roosevelt, was focussed upon the presence or absence of the common
virtues and the common decencies in public life. The revelation of
corruption in politics, in business, and here and there in the public
service, is a testimony not of unwonted wickedness in high places, but
of unwonted sensitiveness in public opinion, and so far as it goes it is
a most hopeful sign; but it does not yet go far enough.
The opportunity to set a new standard in political morality is here now.
Public sensitiveness on every subject ebbs and flows and must be taken
at the flood if the use of it is to be really effective. Decision made
now as to the character of our public life will be valid for many years,
for it is but seldom that the question comes so clearly before us. The
war for righteousness is endless, but this is one of the great battles,
and its results will endure.
We are now in the throes of decision on the whole question of business
in politics, of politics for business purposes, and we must take our
share in determining whether the object of our political system is to be
unclean money or free men.
Pages:
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76