The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1869-04-22
TIE COMING REVOLUTION IN
THE limited STATES.


THE UNITED STATES.
All the signs of the times indicate
that sweeping revolution must come
at no distant day in this country. Not
revolution of the barricades or at the
point of the bayonct, for that is unne.
cessary here, where the people have the
power to accomplish it through their
votes, but revolution, he!ess,
as thorough and complete, through the
ballot box. Hope deferred makes the
heart sick, and the American people
have been vainly hoping for change
in the administration of the government
which has become in every department
the most corrupt and extravagant one
on the face Of the earth. They were
patient during the war, though it was
we'll known the corrupt rings and shod
dy contractors were then robbing the
government of hundreds of millions
year, because the greater question Of
putting down the rebellion and prcser-
wing the Union at any cost ovelwheln-
ed all other questions. Then, again,
during Mr.. Johnsou's administration
they still bore patiently the frightful
extravaganza, corruption and misman
agement in the government, for they
said that was the result of the conflict
between the Executive and Congress,
and that with a new President fresh
from and elected directly by the pto-
pie all would be chang, d and the gov
erumcnt reformed. Besides, it was
needed to cure the evils resulting from
the war. Such were the arguments,
the hopes and the patience of the peo-
pie, aud they bore their burdens ac-
cordinely.
The 18th of March, 1860, was to be
the new era Of reform, retrcnchment,
economy and the restoration Of the gov
ernmeut to something like its original
functions and practice. The new Pres.
iIeut had utter.d words to that effect.
The popular hero who, by his military
genius had conquered the rebellion and
cluscd up the war, was locked to with
hope to bling about the much needed
change. But he has been subjected
and brought und'r the power Of the old
corrupt rings which control the whole
machinery of the gcv' rnment. a few
weeks after his Inauguration he has
,uccumbed to the Senate ring Of cor.
rupt politicians, around which all The
other corrupt rings il ard ont Of Con-
grcss-the whiskcy ring, the Pacific
Railroad ring, the national bank ring
the Treasury ring and all the other
corrupt riugs-rcvolve. That is the
centre and power Of them all. There
ncv'r can be any reform in the govern.
lnent and country until the power Of
that irresponsible aud interruptions
oligarch be broken up. With the sur
rcudcr of General Grant little hope re-
mains that this can be accomplished
during his administration, unless, ill.,
decd, the people become within that
time 50 iluparie"t and disgustcl as to
turn out the present members of Con.
grrss aud elect better ones. General
Grant means right, and should body
of honest and able men be sent to Con-
sress he would work with II EN-; but
having succumbd to the existing Con-
gresso; al ring of politicians, wbi'h
sustains all the crrrupt and plundering
rings that dcplete the Treasury and
oyerwhc I'm the people with taxation, he,
in the meantime, can do nothing.
Nor is there any powerful voice among
the three hundred and more men Of
both houses of Congress raised a:ainst
the widespread corruption and extrav-
agance that prevails. Mr.. Spr"gu", it
is true, has spoken out boldly aud told
some truths very unpalatablH 10 his
Senatorial colleagues. lie is independ-
ent enough, and has resolution to ham
meg away at that citadel Of corruption,
but he lacks the ability required, and
the Senate ring politicians only laugh at
his efforts. Still he is doing good -
Almost all the members OF both the
House and the Senate, especially the
leading members, are inter, sted in the
railroad, whisky Treasury and nation
al bank rings, and they play into each
Others hands How is it p"s>lblc,
then, to reform the government? How
can corruption aud extravaganza be
checked when all the power Is in the
hands of the very men interested III
mil tanning such state of things, aud
when the President has resi- gned HIM
self to them
There appears to be but one end 10
this state Of affairs, and that is revolu-
tiun-an uprising of the people at the
ballot box. 1t is certain they will not
continue to pay taxes to the federal
government to the amount Of four hum
dred millions a year. No people hay
ing universal suffrage ever did or ever
will bear long with such astounding
extravaganza, corruption and mlSman-
agemert and overwhelming taxation as