p. 11 | Ubiquitous Graft by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 28, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 25.

Ubiquitous Graft

By Editor

Who Is Responsible?

CHARLES EDWARD RUSSELL has a telling article in the July "Cosmopolitan" on "Legislative Graft and the Albany Scandal." We will not review the article or its characters. Needless to say the revelations are painful. It is a sad picture to see public men, trusted representatives of the people, convicted of crime, and pilloried in dishonor. Great trusts and companies control men who control the legislature. The sad thing is that the bribes and the bribers are considered among the "good men," men who would not be suspected only as suspicion is compelled by guilt proved. Mr. Russell remarks that these "types of the worst conditions that threaten us . . . do not lie in low brows and 'ignorant' or foreign voters, but in the corruption of politics by Big Business and THE MOST RESPECTABLE PERSONS; corruption that is bribery, and corruption that is only personal or partisan or political advantage, but corruption none the less. Moreover, we can see from these examples exactly how this process goes on in almost every legislature in America. THAT IS WHAT HURTS, ALMOST EVERY LEGISLATURE IN AMERICA."

And then he recites the proved records of the festering mass of corruption, much of which has been told with circumstantial detail in the daily press.

The worst feature, however, of the situation is the proposed cure by Mr. Russell, which is but an echo of many other physicians of the public ills. He says:

"Obviously the source of all this evil in our legislative bodies is not Bad Men nor any other kind of men, but simply and solely Privilege. Privilege requires more Privilege, that it may make more profits. By only one way in this world can it attain its desire, and that is by the corruption of public servants and the perversion of government. . . . Men are corrupted, government is perverted, we are betrayed.

"Do we really wish to stop these evils? Then we shall have to cease to waste our time on individuals whose deeds are but the product of the system, and proceed to deal with causes instead of results."

Mr. Russell's remedy is a pitiable apology of human nature, isn't it? Privilege is a great argus-eyed, hydra-headed, multiform monster which is out for prey! He has spread his nets, reached out his thousand sucking tentacles, and has swept within his power his creators, so that they are POWERLESS to do right! They are not "bad men," they MUST do wrong! The Big Corporation MUST offer bribes and corrupt legislators; the legislators MUST accept these bribes; men MUST be sold and bought like so many sheep!! They are not responsible; O no, they are good men, benevolent, generous, respectable men, church-members perhaps, but for their crimes colossal, and their paralyzing examples, they must not be held responsible! It is Privilege, it is the System, the impersonal things, which are at fault; squelch them, and men will be honest!

Do you believe it, reader? Who made the System? Who demand the Privilege? Who plan the buying of more Privilege? Who are laboring to extend the System in the few fields where its grasping, prehensile tentacles have not reached? The only answer is, Men, men, men, and more and more men, as they are educated in the school of high finance.

Mr. Russell truly says that we should "deal with causes." But we can assure him that he will not find the causes in the things which grasping greed has builded, in the system which covetous men have devised. Tear down the system to-day, and the selfish heart of men will devise and erect another to-morrow. Shut every door of graft and special privilege to-day, demonstrate all its wickedness in figures of livid flame, and men will immediately begin to corner it once more, and to pocket its emoluments with complacent smiles; to be lauded by the public when a portion of the ill-gotten gains are used for some public purpose.

THE CAUSE LIES IN THE UNREGENERATE HUMAN HEART. Take just one testimony, the words of Christ Jesus, who "knew what was in man:"

"For from within, out of the heart of MEN, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man." Mark 7:21-23.

These Things Predicted

This very time and these evil things which Mr. Russell's article so graphically shows, are predicted by God's prophet:

"They hunt every man his brother with a net [the system?]. Their hands are upon that which is evil to do it diligently; the prince asketh, and the judge is ready for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth the evil desire of his soul: thus they weave it together. The best of them is as a brier; the most upright is worse than a thorn hedge: the day of Thy [God's] watchmen, even Thy visitation, is come; now shall be their perplexity." Micah 7:2-4.

But is there a remedy for this? — There is; it is found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is found in a return to God's law, the divine standard of holiness and righteousness and equity. Why should we expect men to heed human laws when they utterly ignore God's law? The primal cause of it all is the unregenerate heart of man, unrestrained by the fear of God, and by right religious teaching, which bring home to men's consciences their responsibility to God and to their fellows.

But human legislation will never cure the leprosy of sin. Exposure will not do it; for too many are involved; it is fast getting to be no longer a disgrace; "they all do it." Jesus Christ only can make men honest and keep them so despite all systems. Refuse, reject His remedy, and the end is certain death. Neglect His warnings, and the rocks of destruction await the drifting vessel. This is what men are doing to-day; and the destruction predicted by the "more sure word of prophecy" awaits.

But some will accept the remedy. Some will stand as men despite machines, nets, Privilege, and System. Some will be loyal to God and vindicate His truth, His remedy. Will you?