The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-06-04
Honesty i'm the Legislature.


We are not astouished, says the STATE
GUARD to hear our article published some
time since in acknowledgement of the homes
ty of men in the Legislature whose reputa-
tion for integrity is beyond all doubt, has
created considerable feeling. In the coun-
ties represented by men who were notorious
for their corruptions, we observe our Repub-
lican contemporaries are particularly indig-
nant at our commission of the names of such
men from our list of honorable legislators,
chargina that we were mercenary in so
doing, nd that the effort to discriminate be-
tween the honest and the dishonest, is fail
ure disgraceful to ourselves and discreditable
to the cause we represent. But this is only
their opinion. We aimed at compromising
no mans character in declaring after patient
investigation, that certain men in the l.egis-
lature were honest, faithful and true to their
trusts. Surely we could not say ALL who
had seats in that body were honest, nor was
it safe for US to individualize the
dishonest That corrupt men held seats in
both branches, the least observant of those
who watched legislation are we'll aware;
while the general public who paid any atten-
tion to the schemes like that of increasing
the rate of taxation on the necessaries of
life, to building up monopolies in Philadel-
phia and other parts of the State, to which
the agriculturist and e7miner were to be
made subservient know that foul influences
were at work. We repeat what we have SO
often declared, that better and more relia-
BILE class of men are needed to discharge the
duties of legislation. Every county in the
State can in many ways improve the stand
ard of their legislators, by electing men who,
when they get to Harrisburg, will be able to
resist the rings of operating in the name OF
both parties, but actually working only for
their individual aggrandizement. There was
time when any man could discharge the
duty oflegislator, but that time is now past
Under present circumstances, the most intel
ligent and reliable are alone able to dea
with the measures and men who come before
the Legislature for consideration and favor
Nor is this all. The Incorporated interests
which now overshadow individual enterprise
in all parts of the State have the very ablest
men constantly in attendance on the session.
of the Legislature, insiduously advocating
and securing the adoption of measures whlcl
pair a general or an individual right. Thos
who can be wheelded or purchased into tn
support Of such schemes are not the men t.
be elected to the Legislature Each commu
nifty must be its own Judge of this fact-eacl
constituency must look out for aspirants 0
this class, and if they value their presen
hopes of prosperity and the future continu
ance of Republican government, they mus
defeat them whenever they dare come up 70
election to offices of great trust. Our Gov
ernment. State as we'll as national, need
honest men in all departments We have
surfeit to those who believe that government
was created for them to pluck and plundel
of men who imagine the Republican part
land the Democratic party, too was organ
lied to open mines of wealth for the satisfat
tion of their covetuousness. The men VIII
are at the head of the journals of both parties
are those who can alone reform the evils
which our articles on the subject of legisl
tive corruption allude; but this cannot be a
complished by pickering with each other.-
We must unite for the general good TO secul
the very best men torepresent the people; an
in doing this the first essential point to |
gained is the security that each constituent
has man or men in the Legislature who CT
not be bought. 1t must be borne in min
that combinations gather around each Legi
lature which laugh to scorn the peoples wan
or wishes and preferences, openly declarin
that all this can be defeated or ignored wi
money whenever such combinations desi
that result We have seen this done mo
than once. Bribe money has been open
paid in our principal hotels-so that there
sense in showing resentment when attenti
is called to the fact.
The Republican party is strongest when
puts forth its best men. 1t has prncip
which will preserve its popularity even VIII
bad men lay it under the disgrace of sus
cion. But we cannot afford longer to Cal
great loads of incompetency and corruptlc
We must have our best men as candidates,
we will assuredly fail. This fact makes
bold in pointing out all whom we know
have been honest. State Guard,
PRESIDENT GRANT is not free trader.
believes in an American policy and the