Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-10-13
Wavsery in Politics.


tho city where the Democratic party has
an unquestioned ascendancy to declare
that the present Generalization has hap.
pe11ed under The ascendency of the Repub-
lican party" The phrase is cunningly
chosen, for it is true that the Republican
party controls the country. But to insin-
uate that IL is therefore responsible for the
swindling of Democrats in New York is
as excellent testing rs 1t would be to state
that it was during the Presidency of Wash
ington that Genet insulted the govern.
fnent, and as If Washington we're really
responsible. But after this delicate insin.
uation Mr.. Tilden proceeds boldly to de-
clare. that there is no doubt the tendency
Of The principles and measures of the Re
phblicsn party Is unfavorable to purity in
government" Mr.. Tilden is humorist
he knows that every intelligent man in
the V1untfy who hears Democrat grave
ly making this remark at this time in the
adity of New York will shout with Mr..
Squeers, Here's richnessi"
\. With all other honest men Mr.. Tilden
sees and -deplores the corruption of our
politics. In the present movement of pu.
riicationin the city he has taken an en-
ergetic snd effective part, so active and
ehrewd, indeed, that the World, the chief
paperof his party in the city, sneered at
hims We wish Mr.. Tilden and his friends
success in their attempts to cleanse the
Augean stable of their party. But why
should they interrupt the good work to
declare that the deflement proceeds from
the Republicanst Even the Albany argus
,confesses that the Democrats were the
buyers in the Legislature. They were the
active, positive corrupting power. But
the source of the evil is far behind.
"Purity in government in this country
was assailed before any of the present
Taunnany ring were in active life. The
corruption in our politics is due to three
chief causes, and each of them is identified
with the Democratic party.
s The first of these causes was the delib-
crate and dogged support of slavery. The
ground of the fathers upon the subject
was that slavery was rapidly disappearing,
and they would not admit the word slave
into the Constitution But from the mo-
meht that slavery became profitable its
systematic defense began. 1t was defend
ed economically, politically, socially,
morally and religiously, and the defender
was the Democratic party. It's position
was an insult to God and man. 1t falsi-
fed the ftlndamen al principle of the gov
ernment. and sacrificed all the vital secu-
rites of liberty. The Democratic argu-
ment for generation was a revolving
sophistry. Its policy depended upon ap-
peals to the basest and cruelest prejudices.
Ignorance and cupidity were the condi-
lions, of its success. The party, mastered
by the great slave lords, became mere
instrument for confirming and perpetu-
ating slavery by degrading the national
conscience. This decentralization became
80. evident in 1848 that many of the best
men left the party. But it did not change
its course. 1t would rule or ruin, and at
last, for the sake of slavery, attempted
the destruction of the Union.
The second cause Of the corruption OF
our politics was the prostitution of the
civil service to party patronage. This
WAS the work of the greatest of Democrs-
itic Presidents, General Jackson. He
wholly changed the practice of the gov.
.efnment Henry Clay, in the Senate, de-
,nounoed the innovation as full of fatal
'perils for the country William L Marcy
"a Democrat, whom Mr.. Tilden mentions
as an example of political morality, re,
piled to Mr.. Clay, and announced the
maxim upon which the Democratic Pres.
ident was then acting-"to the victors be,
long the spoils." From that time to this
it has been the rule. 1t has filled the
,public service with intrigue and incom
potency 1t has caused the absorption OF
the executive prerogative by the Legisla
ture. 1t has destroyed the first great bal
ance of the Constitution. 1t has made the
rational election mere grab game fol
,plunder. And for this vast and incalcula
BILE decentralization the Democratic party
is responsible.
The third cause of the corruption of oul
politics is the reckless pandering to the
ignorance of the foreign population and tC
the political priesthood. The significant
but contemplate illustration of this spirit
is the conduct of the Democratic Mayor
of New York in wearing suit of greer
clothes upon st. Patrick's Day, and in sur
rendering the rights of American citizeni
to the threat of religious mob. 1t hai
been the policy of the Democratic party
to buy the "Irish vote" at any price.
the Democratic leaders thought that tn,
suppression of the right of peaceful assem-
bly, and free speech, or conniving at tn,
overthrow of the public school system, o.
tsneeFing at "niggers would secure tina
vote, they did not hesitate. So wholly
identified was the party with these de
grading and demoralizing tendencies, anC
with all the dangerous elements of a grea
0community, that when we have sometime
demonstrated with honest men for allow
cuses for supporting the party, they hav
replied, But what would become Of us
some good men did not remain to try ant
hold the party in check?"
These are the great obvious causes o
the corruption of our politics. The infa
ton and speculation that have fJllowet
the war, the chances of contracts durin,
/, the War, the general relaxation of mora
fiber which necessarily succeeds a Wal
are all to be included also. But these ar
due to the war, which was the effort Il
Withstand the logical consequences @
Democratic ascendancy. 1t had depende,
upon the party patronage, and upon It
servility to foreign ignorance and ecclesi
: astical ambition, TO corrupt and intimidst
the county in order to psrpetuste slavery
The Republican party was the uprising G
the country against this conspiracy G
iniquity. Does Mr.. Tilden suppose tina
if the desperate course of the Democrat
party had not been checked in 1860 by tn
election of Mr. Lincoln and Republica
, administration, the moral character of tn
county would have been purer to day tina
it IS? Does he believe that if M'Clella
had been elected upon the Democrat
surrender platform of '64, or Seymour upo
the Democratic reputation platform {
'68, that "purity in government woul
have been promoted9
The last national Democratic platforr
declared for a violation OF the nationa
faith. The Democratic General Ewing
in the present Ohio canvass, renews tn
proposition. Does Mr.. Tilden think tbs
great party can gravely recommend RAJ
cality without developing knavery in il
Tanksl Or does he suppose that in til
greatest State in the Union-where MI
William M. Tweed has long been Demo
cratic dictator, buying the Legislator,
forcing the Governor to sign the Erie b |
plundering the people of the city wit
contemptuous audacity, enriching hin
.-self,and his Ring beyond reckoning
gentleman can rise and remark that tn
3 Republican party is the greatest author {
corruption, without filling the land wit
nnrnnrinna lannhferP IL IL the namncratl