Smyrna times., 1856-06-25
Political Corruption.

.patrioi mas more reason To mourn than the po-
litical corruption in our country. Politicians.
themselves, in their reflective moments. arr
willing TO admit that the moral standard of
American politics is so low that the su-
rest way for a man to demoralize him
self, is to enter the political arena. CGnse-
:uently many of the best men in our country
refuse TO participate in our political contests.
and look upon them as low, selfish, sordid games
beneath the dignity CT gentleman, scholar
a Chrmtian. The profession having thus been
deserted by honest men, the political citadel, at
!eaSi, j not the outposs, has been surrendered
into the hands of vicious demagogucs and po-
lltical gamblers, and has become, like Mazda.
lens Hospital, an lum for which prostitution
isan essential qualification.
BuE 'tis ~ old saying that the darkest hour
OF The night is just before the break OF day, and
we hope this may prove true with reference L 10
the political degradation of our people. Al
ready The public mind is becoming engrosscd in
the consideration of great moral reforms; al
ready the friends of morality and virtue have
trlumphed in many States of our Union. and
we believe that the day is not in far dis
tant future when men will be paced in Office
because OF their moral worth and mental abili- |
ty; when ambitious men will not be seekino |
and obtaining office at the threshold of niruity,
lfhe door OF superstition and the bung of whis-
key barrel. When that happy hour does arrive
IN the history OF our Country, the prcudest po-
sitiona man can occupy in this world, will be
to represent the American people; and men of
worth and integrity will be chosen to fill the
places of honor and power. We will then have
politicians above deciding great and eternal
principles rEon narrow and selfish grounds
men who BSGl not, like the yanes of our stee
pies, change with the course of the popular
'Yind, but will, like mountains, change the
course of the wind ITSELF
We are aware it is the opinion of many that
we may hope in vain for political reform but
they are badly mistaken. Tho signs of the
tunes Indicate the dawn of that better day
The old corrupt political parties have been .
shivered to atoms, and the masses Of our peo-
pie are assuming an Independence they have
never before enjoyed. The great questions of q
political reform, temperance or intempcrancc.
or ignorance are agitating our coun
tTy from centre to circumference, and "the sen
Of coming years, beneath whose mighty waves u
Ife's great events are hcavng into birth. is 1T
tossing TO and fro as if ,he winds of heaven by
we're prsoned in its soundless depths and s,rup as
cling to be frce," in
We hare TOO much faith in the ultimate tri- =" "
ImPh OF our institutions to believe that we ::
hall ever be CROPPING n this midnight darkness
healhensh political corruption. AS certain
s there Is God in heaven who will eventually :,
egenerate our race, so certain is American
olitcs to assume higher and noblsr position
a the eyes Of the world But let US remember O'
aat~God never works by miracles when the Va
ime thing can be accomplished by human
gency. When he came to the grave of Lazu-
as, he did not remove the stone by divine DOW '''
:, but told those who saOod around to roll il ,n'
way. Just so IN the great reforms of the pre- =
ut age; God expects us to roll away the great )
structions; and one of the largest stones ,t -"
{ graye where virtue and morality are buried. -"
our political corruption. Public men are
blc examples TO the youth of our country
d when we behold the pride and selGshness T
'sipation and skepticism of our officers, need rro
wonder tlat oIr young men are FORMING San
rruPit and vicious habits! Let this scale .oa
&C be turned; let our best men of yirtue md N,..
"y =. " p'1'.u III po"ef' ana Their exem- o'cl
- VIZ "'o''e 'ul most successful suffi
eLers OF virtue and morality. When intel mon
enee and integrity become passports 10 fame f,o,,
honor, We hayc at once apswcrfuI influence ,,h,,
create vlrtuous people. A moral reforma. yos
. in American politics will do more to Gar. dec;
rd the cause Of morality and religion than fran
r"i"rmation IN the history Of tho world To n
he who lends his feeble influence to ass;e, OIL =
bringing abolt this great reform will do n wicc
lie work for his country and his God. The man,
u who will enter the 0reha of AI1ner5caan ff' t'
tics, and pursue noble, hgh-lninded and ID
uous career, may expect the reward of The that
riot. the PhiIanihropst and the Christian. depI
but the great question IT, how shall this no. ed at
reform be accomplished! Will il be- done whll'
bonest men withdrawing from the political iiiS |
aa, because of It's cOrrupting influences by ht
re are moral men in our country who com. OF M
r il 4 Write to have no share in nol,,;o. man
" toll us that they have nothino 70 A.. doubt
ticians, but 'iet'tbem settle their ODn dirly :,
igues in thefr avn way, and they feel as "U :.
teons and sanchaeG as if they had spo- 4"''l
a hoblsSentimeht, forgetting that, by with was
wing from politics, they injure themselves ."'i'
their country. at'iH1he duty of every man A'''''
ote and uss his influence in favor of n,or.Ii ver'
~ rel,eion yyllaq II III. '''o' "'i was Il
les. as il is calledT II !, ~, az '' Of mil
smeutous questions bpoa ,yb;c,, re- was .
ty"Eequenty depend Can any honest ia"ily
be exorsed for Withdrawing his influencei o.
indeed. This privilege of elective fran