Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-03-31
Executive Patronage.

This is emphatically progressive
age. Not only are men increasing in
wisdom, in wealth and in power, but
they are making rapid advancement to-
wards perfection in the inferior attri-
butes of human nature, such as thiev-
ing, lying and swindling. Vice, whose
votaries were once few and scattering,
and whose diabolical schemes were
once badly planned and poorly execu-
ted by unskillful operators, is fast being
reduced, by His Satanic Majesty, to a
compact theory and perfect system,
practiced with complete success by his
satellites upon this terrestrial sphere.
Politics, which, according to Web
ster, means, or rather once meant, "the
science Of government" now acknoWl-
sdges no such limited Specification; and
that petty class, yclept "the Masses"
who constitute the governed, can no
longer successfully claim its former
share of her regard, much less monop-
Ollie her exclusive attention She is
tending towards a more refined sphere,
and aspires to loftier attitude. Her
name is ''legion." She occupies prom
inent position in the councils of the M
ton. "Upward, onward, downward
and outward" is the significant and
comprehensive motto Of her champions.
Her ambition is universal, and her ram
ifications extend even to the personal
glorifcation and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of her
devoted followers Such is her mheard
Of progress towards systematic devel-
opment, that ere long she will undoubt-
edly repudiate wholly the contracted
definition laid down by that pedantic,
antiquated book-worm, Noah Webster,
and assume the more appropriate and
euphonious title of the quintessence
Of craftsmanship"
Prominent among her sublime work
ings is that branch of her system styled
Executive Patronage. This is truly
her mightiest engine of power; and be-
meath its resistless sway her minions
but too willingly ''stoop to conquer"
The time has been when the Presi-
dent of these United States was sus-
pected of being a man of exalted hon
Or; when men had the audacity to
believe and assert that that high fimc-
tionary would fulfil the sacred pledges
made by him when he stood before the
people for their sutfrages; when fac
tious individuals most scandalouslv as
serted that he would fail in his duty to
himself and his personal friends, by
neglccting to make use of those attri-
butes of political power with which he
is clothed; and when it was even fear
cd that he would SO far forget his high
calling as to shrink from violation of
his faith, and an Infringement of his
constitutional oath. But we are happy
to be able, at last, to say, that in the
light of progression, and guided by a
superior wisdom, the American people
nre enabled to behold such injurious
assertions utterly refuted, and those
fearful apprehensions entirely removed.
The great work of disabusing the
minds of the people of such hallucina-
tons was commenced by Franklin
Pierce, and the close of James Buchan-
an's administration will leave the public
mind fully restored to confidence in I'M
limited rascality, and the success Of po-
itical intrigue. He bears, with Dig
nifty worthy of his character, the tails
man Of executive patronage and he
Yields it with irresistible power and
consummate skill.
He holds it up before the longing
gaze of hungry office-seekers, and as
she tempting morsel 'lures their lank
jaws" down in the dust they go, for
feiting principle and renouncing honor
for the smiles of favor. He shakes it
threateningly at the wavering creature
of federal power, who dares to muir
muir at the requirements of his master,
and 10! he is whipped into the ranks
with the facility with which blind
puppy is transported to safer place
by its maternal canine.
He hurls his edict into the halls of
Congress, and we behold men, once
high minded and honorable, the repre-
sentatives Of the nation, ignoring faith
and integrity, and bowling down at this
shrine of political power. 1t is de-
plorable, a humiliating spectacle. Men
who pretend to be freemen, who live
under Republican government, where
great and small enjoy equal rights and
immunities, and are at liberty to ex-
press their opinions freely, and fearless