The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-25
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1867.
How Shall We Secure Purity of Legis-
latiOn

l1ilTe COTTuplOH' IL is COnCeueu JnaJ Ine
Legislatures of the two greatest Common
wealths in the Republic, namely, those of New
York and Pennsylvania, which have just ad-
iourned respectively at Albany and Harris
burg have achieved a bad pre-eminence as
two of the most corrupt public bodies that
ever assembled in legislative capacity.
Some of the statements in regard to this sub
iect may be exaggerated and overdrawn, but,
unfortunately, there is too much reason to
suspect that they are, in the main, correct
and they reveal a state of things which must
excite the deepest solicitude on the part of
every lover of free institutions. They exhibit
the symptoms of a disease preying upon the
vitals of our society, which must speedily
he checked, or fatal results will follow.
And here we must step aside to express the
feelings of every right-thinking man, when we
condemn the efforts that are being made by
the partisan organs of the Democracy to turn
this thing to political account. Every man OF
intelligence knows that the evil under discus
sion is not partisan but personal, and that 1t
prevails among all parties. Nor are its causes
DarLlSd1l,
of parties affords facilities to bad men to get
into power. The Democratic party, as a
party has certainly never been noted for its
purity. 1t is but short time since an ex-Post-
master of New York city, noted Demo
crat, who stole large sum from the Govern
ment, and found it convenient to live abroad
or several years thereafter, returned home,
and was received with open arms and given
public dinner by his old associates. Nor is a
party which sends a notorious pugilist and
gambler to the Halls of Congress as its repre-
sentative entitled to put on airs, or to assume
any particular superiority in the matter of
public virtue. The fact is that there are bad
men enough in all parties, and the bad men
seem just now to have got hold of our State
Legislatures. We hold it, too, to be very
favorable indication that the Republican press,
with such unanimity, has raised its voice in
denunciatiOn of Legislative corruption, regard
less of the political capital which reckless
partisans might seek to make out of its stric-
lures. The Republican masses are honest and
intelligent, and they do not intend to screen
the rogues and swindlers who, under false
pretenses, may have stolen into power.
But, to return to the direct line of our dis
cussion, the evil in question being admitted,
the practical question arises, How shall we
remedy it? How shall we promote the purity
of legislative bodies
We reply, first, by more careful scrutiny
Of the personal character of our candidates.
In times of great political excitement, when
vital issues are at stake, mans political
opinions become of the highest Importance.
His vote upon public questions may determine
the fate of the nation. Under such circum-
stances the strictest party discipline becomes
necessary, and it may be ones duty to choose
man of bad personal character, with good
political opinions, rather than man of good
personal character, with bad political opinions
Hence it is that such times give great oppor-
tunities to bad men to get into Office. To
secure nomination is to command the midi
vided support of the party. The circum
stances are rare in which party discipline has
any right to go to such lengths as these.
Only great public exigencies can Justify it..
On all ordinary occasions the personal cbarac-
ter of nominees should be scrutinized with
the utmost care, and a bad man should ha
mefoilessly slaughtered. Political wire-pul-
lers should be taught by the independent
members of the party that mere nomination
is not sufficient to secure an election. If this
course were more generally pursued. We
should soon find vast improvement in the
character of the men elected to Office.
Secondly. The temptations to corrupt actor
by our Legislators should be removed as fa,
as possible, by cutting off special legislation
1t is in matters of special legislation tba
corruption runs riot. Here is the graa
field for the operations of the "lobJy.n Or
country has already become so full of weaItl
and resources, and is developing with snol
marvellous rapidity, that special privileges. @
almost any kind, have become exceedinoI
valuable Hence they are sought for wit,
avidity, and all the appliances of corrurtio
are freely used to secure them. BY removin
from the power of the Legislature the whol
subject OF special legislation, we should do
great deal for the purity of legislation. Gene
raj laws can be framed, under which nearl
all legitimate enterprises can be prosecuted
Special privileges are odiOus at best, and lab
to become oppressive. They should be granite
only in cases of absolute necessity.
Thirdly. We believe the purity of lepis
tion would be greatly promoted by large i
crease in the number of members comprising O.
legislative bodies. As a simple matter