The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1853-09-02
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
A PROLIFIC SOURCE OF COR
RUPTLON AND FANATIClSM.

ROH AAOlN hNO EAlNh AOlONs
Before the Democracy o:ihis city and
county can hope to regain that standing
before the people Of the State and nation
which they once enjoyed, and which has
been worn away, like solid rock under
the constant dropping Of the mountain
rivulet, by combination OF bad inAnen'
ces, which they tolerated, at first through
charity, till, united, they have grown al.
most as formidable as the party, they
must drive out from their midst and
brand with lasting disgrace good many
abuses and demoralizing practices which
Of la.e years have been regarded by some
men as par. and parcel Of the Democratic
element Of SUCCESS,
Contention and rivalries among men,
bers Of the party for the rich Offices are
no, the only sources Of corruption and
faction in our party. They are prolific
Of enough mischief, and call loud enough
for the application Of RETRENCH-
MENT; but they, in their nature, are
accompanied by practices which even the
Ordinary conten,ions for place and emoI.
ument do not tolerate as proper or right.
We will speak in palmer phrase, and the
reader will thoroughly understand and
apply: ..H. ... .s- ".
Regularly upon the return Of an cleo
ton season candidates for the Offices to
be Glled start ont on electioneering
missions. They have their names an
nounced,- they have their "claims'
heralded,-,hey endeavor to create all
the interest and zeal possible in their
individual favor. This may all be we'll
enough in country where the humblest
and even the most incompetent and un-
worthy, as the popular idea has been
often taught, "has rgh. to aspire 10 any
Office" bu, it would be still better to
have the tables reversed once, if not
for the good i, nigh. do, for the novelty
Of the ,hiog-and le, the people hunt for
and eleciioneer for candidates. But, as
some Of our asprants for place have
heretofore conducted one of these cleo
tioneering canvasses, and, as il is too
evident, somo again are doing it, there
are uses and abuses which the voting
masses-,lle honest and viiiuous adhe
rents to the party for the love offs
principics-sho should denounce, rebuke,
and repudia,e and disgrace, wherever
and whenever they see them resoricd to
or even hear Of them being prac'iced.
One Of the abuses, degrading TO the
candidate and corrupting to the voter, is
the system OF elec'ioneering on the
strength Of BRANDY and WHlSKEY,
and through their ins,rumcn,aliy becom'
ing, in the eyes OF class, "clever fel.
lows" This has grown TO he all evil of
magnitude, and is resorted TO, We are
grieved 10 say, and hundreds are as much
grieved to see daily, by men who on
other than political occasions, would
scorn to make personal favor at such a
cost ofrepu,a'ion. We have seen can.
didates, for time, refuse to "come in,
TO such course, but finally would yield.
pleading tImt their rivals did so, and un-
less they followed the 'usage" there was
no chance Epr votcs--ihe "cleyer frl-
lows always treated! Now and then
this system of "d'ug .ing" ones self into
popularity would so disgust n candidate,
who feI, the claims of morality and good
citizenship little stronger, ,ha, he would
abandon the field in disgust, aud there
upon he would have good cause to affirm.
as has a thousand times over been said,
that "no man with proper self respect
can ge. an Office any more in Hamilton
county"
This system "WHlSKEY ELEC
TOWERING" has been the paternity
Of another vice, in our opinion equally
degrading and reprehensiLle: 1t is the
hiring Of men, by candidates. with money
paid into hand, and more promised in the
event Of success, 10 60 around among
coffe houses, shops, factories, &C., and
through the county at public gatherings
to inlnence voters in favor Of the certain
aspirant and 10 prison their minds, by
fac,ious stories or downright slanders
against rivals. There are men engaged
in both these degrading means Of getting
Office at this very time, and more vii
engage in them, as the season progress
unless The party, wherever they see then
practiced, rebuke i, by some salutary les
son to the party engaged in it.
THIS is why "good men," as hundreds
express themselves. will not venture 'n,e
the field, or allow their friends to intro
duce them into the arena. Will il be
contended by any one, tha, for any ofthe
civil positions of the State or county, we
have not in our party at this day as many
talented, virtuous and competent men as
we ever hadi Have we not men who
would honor any station, not only as Off
GERS Of the people, but as adheren's o.
the Democratic faith? No one will gain
say the fact. But the people are depr
we'd of their services as men OF ability
and station is deprived Of their examples
Of morality and dignity, and party is de-
prived Of their strength rs the honest up
holders Of its faith, by tie very fact, and
shameful i, is, ,ha, TO get place they have
70 absolutely degrade themselves, no
shof, oru,D l~,,s al.