The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-23
WEDNESDAY, JUNE sS, 1859.
COOP AND BAD GOVERNMENTS.


Americans, Have we the best government?
and many honest and patriotic men are often
disposed to have a doubt on the subject when
q comparison is made between the orderly
and systematic style in which all the details
of such government as that of France for
Instance, are conducted, and our own loose
way Of doing business, with the outrageous
frauds that are daily exposed, the impossi-
bifty of checking them, the disgraceful scram-
bling for offices, the low character of our
politicians, and the open infamy of much of
our legislation. On the surface, one sys-
tenn is all order, regularity, intelligent
exertion of power for the benefit of the sub
ject and the nation at large; and the other
seems a state of semi-anarchy, in which no
one has any responsibility, and the only rule
seems to be ''every one for himself and the
devil take the hindermost. AS an illustration
of the difference between the American and
European style of government, an anecdote is
related by the Rev. Newman Hall. When he
was in the United States, one evening he fell
into deep hole which had been dug across
the road and left there without any lantern to
warn the traveller, and without even piece of
board to prevent him from tumbling in and
breaking his neck. Mr.. Hall was sseverelybruised,
and it was some time before he could sum-
mon any one to his assistance. Referring to
the matter in the presence of an American
friend, Mr.. Hall drew a rather unfavorable
comparison between the American and Eng
lish way of managing such matters, and con-
tended that the law ought to protect the indi-
vidual citizen by providing some safeguards
contended that he was all wrong, for while in
Europe the Government looked upon the sub
jects as children, and undertook to keep them
alike out of harm and mischief, in this coun-
try every individual citizen was expected to
exercise his intellect and take care of himself.
Of course, such principle as this can be
carried to an extreme, but it is essentially the
correct principle nevertheless; and such pa
ternal governments those of France and
Russia, while they have praiseworthy features,
as the frst-class police arrangements that
will prevent the traveller from tumbling into
pitfalls, have inconvenience that more than
counterbalance their merits.
In the United States citizens, under all the
ordinary vicissitudes of life, are expected to
take care of themselves, and they generally
they we're under constant police espionage.
There are few men who would not rather take
the risk of tumbling down deep hole occa-
sionally than to have the eyes of policeman
constantly watching every movement. And
this is just where the republican Government
of the United States asserts its superiority:
the citizen can do what he pleases, can go
where he pleases, and can say what he pleases
without let or hindrance from anybody SC
long as he does not trespass on other mems
rights.
Our political rings, and wire pulling, Office
hunting, revenue frauds, and other unplea-
SAINT features are certainly not to our credit;
but in the United States such matters are
openly discussed, the rascals are denounced
and the public have the power to create
reform if they choose to take the trouble tc
do so. Under despotic government there is
probably more swindling and rascality among
0tt0cheS of the Government than there i,
here but such matters are hushed up, the
press dares not speak of them, and because no
body ever hears them mentioned many are
silly enough to believe that corruption doe
not exist. Every now and then some gran(
piece of rascality in connection with the Gov
ernment is brought to light and the worlC
has glimpse of the corruption that is 81
carefully hidden from their gaze on ordinar,
occasions. Heavily taxed as we are, ant
swindled as we are by dishonest men in Office
Of trust and honor, the American people hav
yet cause to congratulate themselves that their
is yet the cheapest and best government on tn
face of the earth. When we become disguste,
with the corruption and dishonesty that per
vadel our public service, it is Just as wei
sometimes to look on the other side of tn
picture, and to estimate the blessings that W
really enjoy. There are few American Cit
zens who would not prefer to enjoy thei
present liberty of speech and action, at tn
expense of some knavery at Washington @
Harrisburg, rather than to exchange our loose
iointed systemfor a more perfect organizatio
like that of France, which could never exist el
cept under a despotism. The people {
this country can put down the wire-pulert
the rings, and the professional politicians,
they choose to make the etfort and it is b,
cause they will not make the effort thu
rascality in politics has become so rampan
This is duty, however, that onght not to /
evaded, and those who enjoy the blessings
q free government ought also use their inf,
ence to make it respectable. 1t is disgracef
that few corrupt men should be permittt
TO manage our public offices solely for the b
neft of their own pockets; and the issue
l.osw. c.. "a =. lI.g-