Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-05-15

anu lddCtttC NfiptfNf ditA IttpAiutciN tiiOAl'
selves on their expcrtness, mammoth Rail
Road corporations have Bribery or poiti-
cal bureaus, with experienced politicians to
run them, and the people are bought up to
acquiesee. Oh shame! where is thy
blush?'
What is the cause of this state ef political
morals?
There is only one answer; the mercenary
character Of our people. Here it begin,
and here it ends. The desire to possess the
almighty dollar is the true alchemy which
does transmute politics, religion. and all the
graees and virtues into gold There is no ma
ton under the sun. civilized or uncivilized
that presents such terrible state ofdeprayi-
ty in this respect as the American nation, and
that, toe, before we have reached om first
centennial anniversary. 1t is time that both
church and State, high and low, were direc-
ted to this rapidly growing evil Heavier
penalties must be inflicted for the punish
ment of it. and heavier rewards for its
detection. But this alone viii not put a
stop to it.
So universal is the desire for gold,
or its equivalent, that the most sane
tilted and holy places are not free from its
influences. Men who desire to walk upright
before the world, who would scorn the idea
Of taking that which does not bear upon its
face for value received, shave the church
Of the last penny to crafty their greed,
quarrel with their neighbor for half this
amount, and allow their Judgment to be
biased for even less We have frequently
regarded men, in whose Judgment we have
placed great confidence, in matters Of this
kind and we have seen them for a trifine
interest, change their whole nature and IN
sist upon concessions Of few pennies,
which had it been the work Of another,
their Judgment would have spurned it, and
they would have condemned the author Of
such paltryuess as unworthy of confidence
We have seen the grossest wrong become
all right when it has worked few
dimes into the purse Of some men,
Here is the beginning ofthis terrible evil.
When we see a man, for the mere lore Of
money, impose upon his neighbor allow his
Judgment to be biased, and groyel and grasp,
without any other motive, we believe the
keen eyes Of scrutiny should follow him.
His desires overcome his conscience and he
jorgetsr to deal honestly with those around
him, and he solaces himself with 1t is my
.iuty 10 take care of myself and let others do
likewise. We pity the lnan who is indif-
,ereut to the grossest wrong provided it
brings grist TO his mill The man who
seizes every advantage to benefit himself,
without any reference to the interest Of 9th
ers, IS the man to be improperly approached
he is ready for bribery; he only awaits the
opportunity. The classes Of men referred
to above are the ones from which the poll
ticians, with well filed pockets, reap their
haryests. When men allow themselves TO
become slaves 10 the beggar' vice they
generally become too exact to be honest.
There is no reason though why men should
not be able to transact business fairly and
honestly. gentlemanly and scrupuiously cx-
act, without becoming the mere shavcrs
und encroacbers upon the interests of those
who are compelled to deal with them. The
transactions Of the community are reciprocal,
and every one can afford to give an honest
equivalent If every individual were to ask
himself whether he is treating the person
with whom he is dealing as he would wish
to be treated. and then do as be would wish
10 be done BY there would he very few in
the community who would fall into the
mc-hes Of those who live by bribery and
corruption.
And now, a few word. more in regard to
avoiding the terrible fate which hangs over
us Because if bribery and corruption are
to continue to rule the actions Of our leading
men. woe must come unto us! First and
foremost the cause of political regeneration
must be taught in our schools; our text
books should be crowded with it. then our
,.ulpits should resound, week after week,
with the admouitions and cautions of those
whose duty it is 10 pray for and administer
UNTO the wants Of the people, and then let the
honest people trust only those who prove
themselves worthy of confidence, and spurn
the creatures who deal in bribery and
corruption, and instead Of rowarding men
for their expertuess in these crimes, let men
lee rewarded for their good and honest quail
tics Frequently men are selected for
position because they can more successfully
cheat and defiaud their opponents than
others who are less skilled 1t isa common
thing; it is the test Of party fitness. What
degeneracy! The time has come TO discon-
iaue such disreputa lie. practices and to re-
generate our political system. This alone
viii preserve our institutions and perpchiate
olr liberties.