, 1867-09-20
onr rIectinn srstem.

1t may not appear like the most profitable
and entertaining theme for a newspaper ar
ticle, says an exchange, to speak Of the cleo
ton system practiced in this country, because
almost every voter is as well acquainted with
their details as we are; yet reference to the
evils and abuses of these systems may have
tendency to do some little good in the way
of correcting the difficulties which grow out
of them: The old saw of ''each man for
himself and the devil for the hindmost," is
neither eloquent or elegant, but it is express
sive when applied to the election system
ipracticed in this country. 1t will probably
apply to those practiced in all other countries,
Just as we'll, but our purpose is to show to
those who yearly participate in elections,
how easily they can be duped, and how easy
they can dupe others. For, instead of max
ing honesty and fairness the rule by which
to guage campaign, trickery, knavery and
deception, Misrepresentation, dishonesty and
humbug, are the ruling elements; and these
elements are so nicely combined with the
pretense of patriotism and party fealty, or
party orthodoxy, that it is not unfrequently
the case that the best of men are puzzled 10
know whether it is best to sell themselves or
their country, And there are those who
are led around by the very follies which we
| L. % o. call
in their blindness and innocence, not only
) themselves, but their country. Like the
preacher who warns with his subject as he
progresses, we will commence with asking
how many voters there are who have assisted
: in elevating men to position in whom they
had not the least respect and whether they
, have not frequently supported such men while
. under the conviction that they we're not
E bene6ting themselves or the party, but were
. rather rejecting against the strength, dignity
and intelligence of both-if they were not
governed by the views or influenced by some
friend whom they would dislike to acknow'
edge as their equal in prudence, intelligence
and judgment The facts are, political
matters, from the President to that of town
e clerk, are operated by this influence, and it
d is only when some vital and unmistakably
important principle, project or sentiment is
involved, that men will awake from the leth>
! argy by which they are bound, and assert
their pride and privileges as untramelled
!, and unprejudiced citizens. So that it is no
d uncommon thing to see men who are, or ap-
pear to be sensible in all other respects, prac-
: ticing follies in political matters, which if
, introduced into social or business life would
ruin them in no time. Men who appear
q honest, and undoubtedly are, will vote for
the veriest knaves that ever disgraced COM
munity, under the delusion that no better
men than those they vote for can be found
d for the position, indicating at once that the
: voter is sadly humbuged or that he consid-
e ers the position, and the party to which the
position belongs, of no higher order than will
: comport with the character and ability Of the
candidate. In short, he fails to realize that
q there is any better element in humanity than
d that developed in the pursuit of Office, and
instead of trying to give character to his eff
= forts toward the selection of really worthy
: men, he casts stigma upon his party and a
; : curse upon his country by giving power to
Q corrupt men who will WELD it for corrupt
8 ends Politics are trade which must be
learned to be followed successfully, and he
that is best adapted to the practice of all that
! is mean, vile and servile, unjust, dishonest
r and unprincipled, is the most apt apprentice.
e 1t will be noticed that such men rise to the
: head of the class very rapidly, and are usu>
ally the first to command an influence in
political body-not because of their real
t ability, but because they are not always
y fought BY those who are willing to use against
) them the same weapons which they use, on
4 account of. their extremely detestible and
l. disreputable character. When will this end !?
, When can man of character and genuine
ability enter the political field and be sus
tanned on account of his integrity and virtue?
When can one vote as he pleases, as his
convictions of honesty suggest, and have that
) vote tell in favor of his country and bis
s country's welfare When will it be DOS
j sible for truth and integrity to prevail, over
e ambition. corruption and imbecility2 When
these things come to pass, men of honor, of
8 the highest intellectual attainments, will be
, proud to be called politicians, and the rights
of all men, regardless of cliques, factions, or
profit, will be respected.
LARGE SALE OF QUARTZ PRoPERTY.-We
' are informed by Mr.. Sparks, of the firm of
Sparks & Mcpherson, that the silver quartz
property known as the Green Campbell lode,