The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-10-20
A Review.

Sir: III seems 10 me tnat rlSnt on the
heels of a somewhat disastrous cam
paign, statement Of some of the causes
of that result may be advantageous.
The aggregate is made up of individual
atoms, and in elections the footings in
the State are made up of the separate
contributions of the counties, they of
those of townships,and they of individ-
ual votes. So that after all, the unit
plays the grand part in the column of
thousands. Just at this writing dem
ocratic Judge is claimed to be elected in
neighboring district by majority of
one Uote
Upon the result in the State we may
make this remark and then pass on to
the legitimate purpose of this paper:
That the State ticket was in every way
unexceptionable and its defeat is not
perhaps attributable to the fact that
clean majority in the State is against it;
but to the fact of light vote, and
mainly to some reasons to be given in
the paragraphs following. To them /
request attention, for in them the cause
of all our trouble lies.
The disturbance in the political ele-
ments produced by the split at Charles
ton in 1860, made possible what had
never before been possible in our his
tory. 1t made prominent small men-
it caused civil war-it produced enor-
nous expenditures of money-and it
originated and fostered public and prl-
vate corruption. Hence all our woes.
The love of money is the root of all
evil. The scramble for Office and the
illegitimate gains of office has driven
from politics, in great degree, those
pure, honest and able men who adorned
the public service in the early days of
the Republic.
From the President of the United
States down, the taking of bribes, the
giving of gifts and the peculations of
official place, are the rule. The people
cannot be honest who elect dishonest
rulers. In many cases these men force
themselves upon their respective par
ties, and the members submit to be rid
den by this old man of the sea.
In many cases these corrupt scoun-
drels are candidates, either regular or
volunteer, at the bidding or hiring of
the radical corruption fund. They are
mere tools in the hands Of opposition
party leaders.
In the late election in Columbia cOun-
ty the success of the ticket was un-
doubtedly due to its excellent character.
Every man on it was honest, faithful
and competent Personal qualifications
won the race. 1t is lesson by which
we might profit otherwhere. In one
neighboring district we lost the Judge
upon the charge of incOmpetency. l
believe it to have been false in that in
stance; but it was consummate folly
for the party to put itself in position
to have that said of its candidate.-
Good, admittedly good lawyers are not
so scarce, as to excuse such nomina-
tions.
So, members of the legislature are
lost, because they were not the best
men who could be had. Conventions
have right to choose from the whole
body of the county, for any office and
if proper men do not announce them
selves, any citizen has a right to sug-
gest name for the consideration of the
public. No man has right to nomi-
nation by reason of partizan work, but
the party has right to call upon any
of its members to bear the flag in the
coming fray. Therefore bad nomina-
tions, weak nominations, incompetent
nominations are not eXcu5able.
In the good old days it was said that
the Office of President was neither to
be sought nor declined. The change in
tone and practice is well illustrated by
Gen. Butler, who said the Office of Gov
ernor was to be sought and secured by
all legitimate means. That could not
have been said by public man fifty
years ago.
The cause of our defeat in the state,
is the nomination in districts, of incom-
petent, or corrupt or suspicious men.
Our people will not support them, and
they are too much like republicans to
win support from their ranks. If all
our nominations had been as good as
they should have been, the aggregate
would have given us victory, by secur-
ing all our own strength, and winning
the honest men, if there are any, from
our opponents. GERMANICUs.