Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-11-24
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people are every four years called upon TO
perform, has been gone through with, and
the sovereigns Of the country have decreed
that Zachary Taylor shall be installed Presi-
March next, unless the conscientious scru-
pies Of those who can fight the Mexicans on
the Sabbath, should shrink from profaning
that day by the Inauguration Of the President,
IN which event he will enter upon the duties
of Office on the 5th instead Of the 4th Of
March.
We are truly thankful that the political ex-
element has measurably subsidized, that men
ARE beginning to fall back into their old hab-
its, and permitting reason TO resume her for
mer empire. These electioneering campaigns
are terrible infections; far more to be depre-
Gated than storms, earthquake or pestilence,
which so many regard as the special minis:
tiers Of Gods judgments. War finds il, me-
cessary 10 establish a code Of morals, contra
vening that upon which are based mans re-
lations and duties to man, else could it not
exist. That this is too much the case with
politics, every candid politician will bear wit
ness. Politics is a game Of chance and
skill; and the morality of private life, the
principles Of honor and honesty which gov
ern men in ordinary circumstances are disre-
garded TO a very great extent in a political
contest. Men, who in their business Tela-
ions may be implicitly relied upon, are often
fraudulent as politicians. Bribery and cor
ruption are with them the order Of the day,
for all is fair in politics. The circulation Of
forged documents, the propagation of out
Iageous falsehoods, defamation of character,
and violation Of pledges are the ordinary ac-
omp niments Of a political campaign, for
which the excitement Of the game, and the
desire to win, are no justification, hardly a
palliation.
We remember the reply made by a states
man of some distinction, when asked what
effect politics had had upon him: He said
tina, he stopped to do mean and dirty work as
scorned to engage in. And this is true to a
greater or lesser extent of the politicians Of
all parties. and the close of a campaign brings
with it a conviction of a deterioration in mo-
rails that every lover Of his country and his
race cannot but lament. 1t is not to be ex-
pected that a man can engage In aught that
is corrupting in its character and not be de-
filed thereby. The lessons of morality he
learned in the political school, may moi at
once appear in the transactions of private life,
yet his standard of morals will be gradually
lowered by the influence of the doctrines prac-
tically taught therein. The man, who, as a
politician, and for the sake Of party success,
will forge an electioneering letter, or will
knowingly lend his aid in its circulation, and
persuade himself he has lone no wrong there
in, has adopted a principle that will justify
him in issuing a forged note where his OWL
affairs seem 10 demand some extra effort. He
who gives a political pledge, and contends it
Is right 10 break it when party success re-
quires it, has established a principle that will
lead him TO defraud for his own benefit, those
who repose confidence in him.
We repea! it, the storm that would make
desolate the face of our country, the earth-
quake that would upheave its very founda-
iions, the pestilence that would walk in our
midst at noon day, are not either, or all SO
much to be dreaded as the morality of cleo
pioneering campaigns; and though the vast
majority regard such sentiments as ~fanatical
in the extreme, we believe the time will
come when the evidences of their truth will
so greatly abound that zone can reject them.
The corruption already wrought out in the
various departments of government by our
false standard of political honor and honesty,
is even now attracting public attention, and
a reform is loudly called for. This, howev-
or, is not an abuse of our system of politics,
but its natural results. The ofice-holders
but practice the morality they learned during
she campaign. and the consequence is bribe-
nv, peculation, favoritism, fraud, falsehood,
and all their attendant evils; from which
consequences and which cause we hope to
be preserved.
RArHER MoRTIFYING.-Daniel Webster