The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-10-20
FROM MEME.
Special Correspondence of The PILor.

special correspondence OF L HE PILOT
MEENE, Oct Is, 1870
EDITOR PILoT:--Politcs is the rage Just
| now; all other subjects are forgotten in the
excitement Of ''electioneering,n and the an1-
Iety of people to show their preference for,
and to pledge their undivided support to the
candidate who, for the time being, furnishes
them with lager" The merits and dement's
Of the various opposing candidates are thor
oughly discussed; the character Of the nom-
noes is melcilessly "raked up" and every
thing that can be said pro or con is readily ad-
duced. Truly, ''the way of the politician is
hard" Able and influential meu are doing
their level best to make voters view mat
tiers from their standpoint. Broken heads are
not of very frequent occurrence, owing prin-
cipally, opine, 10 the impussibili,y of the
constituents of the different political parties
to understand one another; an evidence Of the
remarkable foresight and sagacity Of the con-
vention in preventing bloodshed.
One feature Of politics is particularly dis
gushing and savors strongly Of a venal aud
corrupt age, and that il the bribing of voters
by means Of liquor. Whisky is the open
Sesame to all offices, and no man can be
elected unless he conforms to this inc xorable
custom, and makes use of this grand lever.
People resort to the tavern to discuss the rela-
tive merits Of the nominees and to decide
whom they shall vote for. In all such deliber-
ations whisky is indispensable, and aids pee-
pie immensely in making judicious selection
1t is notorious fact that the men who spend
generally elected. Honesty, ability-all the
qualifications which i. is necessary to possess
in order to make good, efficient officer, are
overlooked, while the most convincing argu-
ment of the fitness Of Il candidate for any posi-
ton is his liberality in furnishing WHISKY.
Can not a man exercise his judgment coo,ly
and dispas,iopately without the aid Of stimu-
lating drinks? Must a man necessarily be
drunkard himself and aid in making drunk
ards of others before he is qualified to hold an
otficel Is 1t to discharge the duties of their
Offices justly and impartially or to administer
to depraved appetites that men are electedl
Is mans efficiency and competency to be
Judged by his liberality in tavernl While
this absurd custom prevails man can not be
elected to Office and preserve his self-re.pect;
ne commences his career by using money to
defeat his opponent; dishonesty soon becomes
second nature to him. Population and We
nality are the leading characteristics of all
officials from President down to Road Over
seer. Dishonesty in public Office is such
matter of course and of such frequent occur
renee that officials act So Involuntarily All
those evils can trace their origin to the pre-
valent and popular custom Of "electionecr-
ing In this progressive age when evils Of
every sort are being abolished, and enlighten-
ment and intelligence are being diffused all
over the globe, this system of bribing is an
outrage en- society. When men stand entirely
on their own merits. and not on their ability
to spend so much money, we can then hope to
have our public office. filled with good men.