Foreword
| Author | James C. Charlesworth,Clarence N. Callender |
| Published date | 01 March 1952 |
| Date | 01 March 1952 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/000271625228000101 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
ix
FOREWORD
SELDOM
in
history
have
political
institutions
been
subjected
to
greater
scrutiny
than
at
the
present
time.
In
a
world
where
widely
divergent
theories
of
govern-
ment
are
competing
for
acceptance,
the
fidelity
and
effectiveness
of
their
institu-
tions
have
become
a
matter
of
great
concern
to
the
adherents
of
each
particular
pattern.
To
those
who
hold
to
the
democratic
form,
the
matter
assumes
special
importance.
Since
democratic
institutions
are
an
inseparable
part
of
the
demo-
cratic
way
of
life,
the
preservation
of
their
basic
character
is
essential.
But
more
than
an
acceptable
form
is
necessary;
democracy
must
also
provide
responsible
government,
particularly
so
in
times
of
stress.
To
the
United
States
as
the
leader
of
the
Western
world,
with
major
responsibility
for
the
future
course
of
events,
effective
government
has
become
a
matter
of
paramount
importance.
The
prob-
lem
is
one
of
many
facets.
This
symposium
is
concerned
with
only
one-honesty
among
public
servants
as
an
essential
factor
in
effective
government.
In
our
volume
The
Crisis
of
Democracy
in
September
1933
we
considered
ethical
stand-
ards
in
public
life
as
one
in
many
problems
of
government;
today
it
seems
an
ap-
propriate
subject
for
wider
and
more
particular
attention.
The
American
system
was
born
as
an
experiment;
it
is
still
an
experiment.
But
it
has
grown
up,
and
maturity
brings
greater
responsibilities.
No
longer
may
we
condone
our
indiscretions
as
those
of
infancy
or
adolescence.
Maturity
means
placing
greater
responsibilities
on
public
officials
and
holding
them
to
their
trust.
It
means
greater
recognition
for
faithful
public
servants
and
a
willingness
to
back
them
up.
It
means
an
abandonment
of
the
fatuous
stereotype
of
many
thought-
less
Americans
that
the
public
service
is
an
inferior
occupation
and
that
honesty
among
public
servants
is
not
generally
to
be
expected.
On
the
contrary,
ma-
turity
means
giving
to
the
faithful
public
servant
as
high
esteem
as
Americans
have
traditionally
bestowed
upon
the
successful
businessman.
Political
maturity
connotes
a
high
standard
of
ethics
in
government
regardless
of
what
the
level
may
be
in
business
or
private
life,
and
the
community
is
entitled
to
insist
that
all
public
servants
accept
the
fact.
Again,
political
maturity
involves
acceptance
of
the
principle
that,
although
the
prevention
of’unethical
practices
is
a
nonpartisan
mat-
ter,
the
party
in
power
must
assume
primary
responsibility
for
what
goes
on
under
its
auspices,
and
that
it
is
no
defense
that
revelations
of
skulduggery
by
the
op-
position
are
politically
motivated.
(But
it
does
mean
that
criticism
must
be
hon-
est,
that
it
must
not
be
unfounded
character
assassination.)
Finally,
political
maturity
requires
that
we
re-examine
and
reappraise
public
attitudes
concerning
standards
for
the
public
service.
With
what
degree
of
insistence
does
public
opin-
ion
demand
honest
government?
What,
first,
is
the
attitude
of
the
electorate?
Again,
how
effectively
do
the
press,
the
radio,
the
pulpit,
and
the
educational
in-
stitutions
promote
higher
standards?
To
what
degree
do
the
pressures
of
self-
seeking
groups
inhibit
legislation
in
the
public
interest
and
corrupt
public
ad-
ministration ?
These
are
some
of
the
pressing
questions
which
an
adult
commu-
nity
attempts
to
answer.
Difficult
tasks
have
been
assigned
to
our
contributors.
Theirs
is
the
delicate
undertaking
of
interpreting
the
civic
conscience.
Then
there
is
the
difficulty
of
recognizing
the
public
interest
amid
the
welter
of
conflicting
private
interests,
and
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