When a man takes a position of trust, influence, and honour, and, whatever the difficulty, abandons a principle he should hold sacred, he must be held responsible.

A battle is an ordeal, and we must be stern with friend and foe.

But there is something more sinister than the weakness of the man: remember the net.
VI The concrete case makes clear the principle in question.

The man whom we have seen go down would have been safe if he had to fight no battle but one he could face with all his true friends, and in the open light of day.

Having to fight a secret battle was never even considered: threats direct or vague or subtle, blandishments, cajolery, graciousness, patronage, flattery, plausible generalities, attacks indirect and insidious--all coming without pause, secret, silent, tireless.