Our damaged political reputation; how acquired 277 The garrulity of politicians, its explanation 278 Sensationalism of the press 281 Reform movements, to what extent are they evidence of moral improvement 287 Special privilege in England and Germany 290 Significance of the American attitude toward special privilege 291 Special privilege not always corrupt, but may come to be considered such 292 American criticism of special privilege as corrupt not proof of our inferiority to Europe in political morality 294 Consequences of the wide diffusion of political power in the United States 296 Conclusion: Corruption decreasing in the more progressive countries of the world 299 APOLOGIES FOR POLITICAL CORRUPTION I APOLOGIES FOR POLITICAL CORRUPTION Nearly all current contributions on the subject of political corruption belong frankly to the literature of exposure and denunciation. The ends pursued by social reformers are notoriously divergent and antagonistic, but there is general agreement among them and, for that matter, among Philistines as well, that corruption is wholly perverse and dangerous. How then may one have the temerity to speak of apologies in the premises? Certainly not, as one writer has recently done, by presenting a detailed and striking picture of the force with which the temptation to corrupt action operates upon individuals exposed to its malevolent influence. No doubt such studies are of great value in laying bare to us the hidden springs of part of our political life, the great resources, material and social, of those who are selfishly assailing the honesty of government, and the difficulties in the way of those who are sincerely struggling for better things. In the last analysis, however, all this is nothing more than a species of explanation and extenuation, which if slightly exaggerated may easily degenerate into maudlin sympathy. That men’s votes or influence are cheap or dear, that their political honour can be bought for $20 or $20,000—doubtless these facts are significant as to the calibre of the men concerned and the morals of the times, but they do not amount to an apology for either.[1] If, however, it can be shown that in spite of the evil involved political corruption nevertheless has certain resultants which are advantageous, not simply to those who profit directly by crooked devices, but to society in general, the use of the term would be justified.