Among Reformers 57 



inevitably means to increase the depravity. It is 

 a dreadful thing that public sentiment should con 

 done misconduct in a public man ; but this is no ex 

 cuse for the public man, if by his conduct he still 

 further degrades public sentiment. There can be no 

 meddling with the laws of righteousness, of de 

 cency, of morality. We are in honor bound to put 

 into practice what we preach ; to remember that we 

 are not to be excused if we do not; and that in the 

 last resort no material prosperity, no business acu 

 men, no intellectual development of any kind, can 

 atone in the life of a nation for the lack of the fun 

 damental qualities of courage, honesty, and common 

 sense. 



