True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-08-29

the political strength of both parties near
| ly equal-then comes the tug of war, for
if one set of nominees could succeed in ont
!, jOckeying their competitors SO as to secure
the votes of adopted citizens, and the float
ing vote that o liberal course of election
eering could always procure, they could
then rest certain of ultimate success. AS
before stated, conventions frequently NOM
mated candidates with the special refer
ence their, popularity, gained bya knack
Of doing the handsome which we need not
tdescribe-and hence the plea Of availabili-
ty, so long and SO often used by @calcula.
ting poiticians-and hence the trucking
of aspirants after Office, to the whims and
interests of this class of voters. And
large majority, perhaps all of this class,
are opposed to the reformatory and enlight.
ened legislation, which the welfare of the
country and spirit Of the age demand, and
seek the enactment of measures at variance
with our common good, and subversive Of
our republican institutions, and it matters
but little to us whether they oppose the
one or secure the performance of the other
by their own hands or with the tools that
the promise of an Office was pretty certain
to procure, for the injury to the interests
of our common country is the same. But
the injury that we have received from their
opposition is not SO great and that which
we might yet receive would not, perhaps,
be greater than what We have and are re.
ceiving by having our offices filled-not by
men eminent for their capability and mer-
it, but by a class of unqualified and un-
principled Office seekers, which this policy
has too long given us. We do not assert
that all our officers have been and are of
this class, but this has been the rule, and
good officers the exception. And it is ca
sy to see that whilst this policy is pursued,
wu cannot advance IN prosperity--canav,
obtain the reformation of abuses 80 much
needed at present, nor secure the enact
ment Of equal and just laws instead of the
partial and inefficient legislation that has
SO long disgraced our country, for men Of
reliable principles, sterling integrity and
eminent capabiity will not pander their
principles nor clog their hands by the
shackles sought to be imposed upon them,
and because they will not do so, and
stoop to court the popularity before men,
toned, they are not available. In too ma
ny instances, when convention lost sight
of this important policy and had the satis-
faction of presenting candidates of unex-
ceptionable character and eminent capabil-
ity, but unskilled in the tactics alluded to,
its members had the additional satisfaction
Of seeing them defeated. The people gen.
orally begin to think that we have gone far
enough on the downward road-that it is
time to bring the team round and try to
get up hill again. And the remedy being
in our own hands, it is incumbent on us to
apply it; and as it is the best to begin at
the foundation of the evil, we say firmly to
those desirous of getting Offices, if you con-
tinue to seek for popularity with foreign
citizens with q view to obtaining their in
fuence and votes, you cannot receive ours
but with the leave of the Editor, we will,
at proper time, tell what we think Of ell
ectioneering and Office seeking. On the
other hand we say respectfully but firmly
to our adopted citizens you have helped
us to hold the lines about long enoug h
you have pulled one way and we have pull.
led another till the team is getting rather
baulky, and we can't possibly trust all the
reins in your hands, though like some of
our little boys, you are overly willing and
mighty conceited; SO, as we don't drive
well together, "by your leave' we will just
take the reins in our hands awhile. The
wagon and team are ours, and you are very
Welcome to ride with us if you wish, but
we must drive.
The emigrants that have long thrOnged
and yet thropg our shores. do not all come
from one country, but from many, it fol-
lows that they have various, and often con-
ficting notions respecting Republicanism,
and of what are their rights and privile'
ges under it, As this is free country,
they come here with too much of "we'l
do as we please" kind of disposition. They
have yet to learn that true republican
government requires each individual t'
govern himself and refrain from trespass
ing on the rights of others, aud that the
lawless, licentious freedom he wishes tt
exercise, is not compatible with true liber
f ty. As they find that matters here are
not arranged as they severally supposed
they would be, they are very confident tina
they can mend things vastly, and soon be
come quite oficious to advise and assist
and ths socialist republicanism Of the Gel