The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-05-07

VhAUA L. MAI, I, 1907.
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The Political and Materia
CorruptiOn of the Country.
There 10 . marked difference be-
tween the present time and the pc
riod just previous to. our war. II
1860. the man who became market
In political or business immortality
was held up to public scorn and ob-
loquy. Not 50 to-day. He who
defrauds the government, his bust.
ness associates. or disgraces his
constituents in Congress, is looked
At With admiration and as bright
sxemplsr worthy OF initiation
The man who few years since
stole tow hundred dollars from our
city Council and called down the
wrath Of every citizen, may now
plumber the nation Of millions and
boast Of the honors which be wins
In the exercise Of his peculiar abi:-
ity. '.. ar.
The Union Credit Pacific Mobil.
Ter Company, whose dirty face we
tried to wash little yesterday, is
among tho first of the giga ntic
swicdling combinations whose acts
sre now having their natural re-
bound. The stagnant mass of cor
ruption which always follows in tho
wake Of war. came upon us in the
ratio Of tho gigantic material We
hurled against the rebellion. The
whole evil elements Of the country
found full play and plenty to feed
upon. How we'll it fed, let two
thousand six hundred millions of
national debt answer. How we'll
It will still sap our prosperity, let
three hundred millions Of annual
expenditures cemonstrate.
Our great struggle for national
preservation was undertaken in the
loftiest sentiment Of patriotism
The first year of the war the people
shouldersd arms from principle
We paid NJ bounty. and patriotism
had not fixed its price. Two years
had scarcely passed before the de-
moralisation produced by the prodi-
gal outpouring Of national treasure
extended from Congro ssmen, gov
eminent contractors, and the lead
ing plunderers. to the lower grades
OF society. and the nation became
one vast whirlpool of immortality.
With the incubation of the masses
the leading brains grew holder and
felt surer Of their power to inaugu-
rate : gigantic system Of plunder
which depended, in great part, for
success upon public opinion thus
prepared. So education went on,
reflected from low to high, until
the country could take, o. . we'll
played jest, the betrayal of its po-
litical and material prosperity
Congress. naturally, in our system
Of government, represented our gem
ersl condition, and consequently
was ripe Tor oil measures that aim
ed at the tapping Of the fountain
head Of wealth-the public treas
ury.
The country was ready-then
were launched in rapid susc ession
tho schemes for plumber which have
since staggered 10 and brought us
to our senses. Then came the
Union Pacific Railroad. with its
tens Of millions Of plumber, and.
following this, the hungry financial
wolves, seeming the national blood,
rushed in and Pacific railroad char.
tsrs from oil sides-trom Washing
ton and from every State-fooded
the market and filed the whole
space from Texas to British Amer
isa with imaginary parallel lines Of
iron. The wolves tore the national
domain into shreds and pointed out
the land spoils to their followers. -
If the Indian residents stood in
their way convenient war destroy
ed their titles to consideration and
despoilea them Of their possessions.
This failing. trumped-up treaty
Of peace between the p1underers
and the tribe gave the former the
courage and shamelessness to pre-
ssnt : claim to the property for the
confirmation Of the Senate, as wit
ness the Cherokee land spoilation
still awaiting its turn to prove the
corruption of our legislative branch
Of the government.
The tide flows on and the vast
ocean of corruption begins to feel q
purifying pressure. The bubbles
are coming to the aurface. and the
air is filed with the stencil Of eight
years Of financial and political rot
tenness. Slowly but surely upwards
the people again meve. Nov and
then some clear-headed, bold man,
like Mr.. Sprague. steps to the front
aud dsnounces the men who head
the demoralixa:ion We have pictur-
ed. The mass moves, and out aof
the mire on firm ground again. OF
the two branahes Of Congress the
Representatives lead in reform, for
they feel the touch of the people
more quickly. The Senate. g)ut-
ted with power. diotatorial and ir-
responsible. yield only to force
Around them. in defense. stands !
wall Of wealth, handled by the re-
lentless, interruptions plunderers.