Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-09-23
Peoples 11Ovement.-Who Op.
poses Them.-They Can be Pre-.
vented.

There are greater calamities which
can befall people than the disruption
of a political party. One of them is the
perpetuation of public corruption and
fraud In quite large number Of
counties in this State, political organi.
cations are now being formed under the
name Of "Peoples' Movement" In
most cases the leaders of these move.
ments are, and have been active and
staunch friends and supporters Of the
Republican party. A large majority
Of the men who identify themselves with
the new organizations are Republicans,
In several counties, the organization
has already assumed formidable proper
ton. It, then, becomes every consis.
tent Republican who is devoted to the
interests of the party to inquire as to
the cause Of this disafection. It is too
serious a matter to be cast off with
sneers and ridicule. To malign the lea
ders does not meet the emergency. A
temporary browbeating into silence
would only prepare the way for another
and more serious out-cropping Of the
same difficulty. -#
In our judgment these movements are
unmistakeable evidence of something
wrong in the party, some prevailing evil
which if not remedied soon, will work
eventual ruin. In every instance so
far as We are informed, frands corrup-
tion in Office, burdonsome taxation, the
sudden accumulation Of wealth by coun-
ty officers who get small salaries, per-
verting public Offices into instruments
Of private gain,-:-the continuing Of a
few men around the Court House and
County Seat for the purpose Of manip-
ulating and controlling local politics,
packing caucuses and conventions
some one or all of these are alledged as
the ground of action. Most Republi-
can Journals of the State dcprecate and
ridicule these movements and without
sufficient ground, alledge that they are
the offspring of disappointed Office seek:
ers, while Democratic editors hail them
as harbingers Of permanent dissolution
ofthe party when they can step in and
reap the spoils. -. =.
The wisest course on the part Of Re-
publicans, is manifestly to-. commence
the work Of reform. The party which
has not the disposition nor ability to
correct its own evils, must be short lived.
1t is much better for the party to &C.,
knowledge that many Of the present
Office holders are venal and corrupt, and
to set about the work Of removing them
at once, than to deny the truth for the.
sake Of spoil, and lead our enemies to
take advantage Of the growing disaffec-
tion among the people. AS general
rule the newspapers throughout the
State which pour otu their bitterness
upon the leaders Of peoples movements
are, in the present enjoyment ofill gotten
gain, which these political rings have
plundercd from the: people. , They
would rather the party go to destruction
than give up their crumbs. Let the
leading Republican journals Of the
State, including the Saint Paul Press,
that notorious father of rings and venal-
ity, and opposer Of reform. Come out
and advocate the removal Of every man
from Office about whom even the sus:
picion Of corruption has gathered, and
these lamented Peoples Movements
would soon cease to exist. If a party
woald live it must be pure, and if it has
not vitality enough to purify itself it's
days are numbered. . =.