The Shasta courier., 1865-09-23
The Mllk in the Cocoanus Accounted for.

The recent political campaign in this sState,
in which the Union party, as contestant for
principle, entered against Long Hairs, Short
Hairs, Boilers and pperheads-contestants
for ofiee-has taught lesson that should not
be lost upon the people. There was really
but one party in the field that claimed a
principle or platform above the grovelling
one of Office. That party succeeded in a
majority of the counties Of the State, and
to-day holds large majority in the law
making branch of the State government =
This speaks well for the virtue and patriot
ism of the people. 1t proves what dema.
gogues, mere politicians and wire-pullers for
place, should more thoroughly study. viz =
that their assertions of fraud-of want of
principle in party rganizations-is generally
confined to themselves, and have no great
weight with the mass of people who vote
not for selfish gain, but that the government
may be administered by good men, who are
responsible for their acts to party that
advocates the advancement to perfection of a
great principle, which progress and freedom
seems to demand, and is attaining with more
than human power.
The history of the past few months teaches
that there is something in the machinery OF
our government that tempts men from an
honest course to the pursuance of an opposite
one. What is that defect? 1t strikes us
very forcibly that the temptation lies In the
fatness of our Offices, many Of WHICH enables
the incumbent not only to make fortune to
himself in a term of one or two years, but to
support host of professional political trick
sters and hangers ON, to whom he is under
obligations for his position. Then the tempt
alton to the pursuance of dishonest courses is
in the emoluments contingent upon success.
Take away the profits of crime, and crime
ceases, just as sure as water finds It's level.
Reduce the fatness of the Offices, and the
strife to possess them will cease. Reduce
offices to such standard as will barely pay
the incumbents an economical living and
the glorious millennium, when the Office shall
hdnt the man, will be upon US, and honesty
will rise to par, for once the Office goes hunt
ing it will find taker in some one who will
discharge its duties, not for profit, not for the
stealings, but because he owes it to his fel-
low citizens and to his country to faithfully
discharge the functions they or it may i'm
pose upon him.
Had the scale of profit in our Offices been
reduced fifty per cent. on an average, there
would have been no boiling from the Union
party. drawn thence by the glitter of spoils
in perspective; no affliation with Copper
heads. that the merceuary end might be at
tanned no ignoring of principle fog lacre +;
humanity would not have been so broadly
disgraced as it exhibited itself at the recent
election nor would there be to-day Demo
cratic party. Even the components of that
old concern would then have to assume a
virtue, though they possessed it not, and as
first step in that direction change of name
would be necessity. 70 that party this
State is indebted for its big fee bills, and to
those big fee bills is that party indebted for
its organization and corruption.
1t is the plain duty of the Union party,
then, to use its power, while pure, to remove
this great temptation to immoral practices,
and trust to the better nature Of the people
for its continued predominance wipe out
the cause of corruption, and by so doing
bring into the field of politics new element
now lying dormant-virtue an element ret
icept and ayerse to scrambling with the un-
principled one that has overslaughed it by
brazen impudence. Remove the cause of
strife, and strife ceases. That cause lies in
the too great fatness of the Offices.
| In every instance where the fees of Office
have been reduced throughout the State, the
effect has been satisfactory to the masses,
and in every instance more or less idlers
have been compelled to seek other means Of
living than sucking it from the public teat.
An unemployed community is pest, and
a policy that maintains a horde of able bodied
men in idleness is bad beyond question. Let
the Union party revise these fee bills and
official salaries, and bring them down to the
standard of payment for services rendered
and the responsibility incurred. Now and
heretofore the crumbs falling from official
desks have furnished a living for the turbu-
lent element in our primary elections and
conventions, Those crumbs have furnished,
through that element, aided by donations
from aspirants, the nominees af the conven
tions. Let the crumbs be stopped.
INDIAN ScARED.-A few days ago domes.