The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-10-03
Thieving Rings"

There is no doubt tnaJ tne BreaI uaHBer
which now threatens the country, is the
ease with which corrupt men secure and
retain political power. All over the United
States are "thieving rings" which threat
en- by their enormous frauds to bankrupt the
whole community, and upon this subjectw
we find an article in the N. ]. Mechanic that
SO well expresses our ideas, that we copy a
portion of it. a'la r..to .al7gI. .lsr. 4
'Every city and village pays tribute to a
clique. Each State capital is the home of
a combination organized for purposes of
plunder. We all see and feel the danger
in general way and yet we do nothing to
purify politics and this, not because we
are Indifferent or careless, or corrupt as
people, but because we are kept constantly
misinformed by those WHO profess to en-
tighten us. .-.. Cd.
Whenever the fraudulent practices of a
clique are exposed, the newspapers not con-
tent with denouncing the wrong for its own
sake, and pleading for the right, pure, and
simple, at once make partisan affair Of it,
Fastening to fasten the responsibility upon
the party to which this particular ring hap
pens to belong. The papers of the accused
party, instead of insisting upon thorough
investigation, denounce the accusation as
Democratic or Republican lie, as the case
may be, gotten up for the advancement of
partizan interests. By this means an inves-
tigation is either not made, or is conduct
ed in such way that the truth is known
only by those interested in concealing it.
Now, it is evident that men who make a
practice of spending time and money in Or
der to control primary elections, or who
trade in conventions, do so simply that
they may directly or indirectly steal from
the public purse. They have no political
or other principles of their own, and they
espouse those of the party which happens
to be in the ascendant in their particular
field of operations. To charge their frauds
upon that party is not only often unjust,
but always impolitic. 1t gives to the plum
derers strength which they could not other
wise command. 1t makes that partisan
movement which should be popular one.
We all know that there are thousands of
honest men in each of the two political
parties of the country-men who will not
knowingly support corruption or tolerate
dishonesty. But partisan exposures of
fraud fail to convince them, and they vote
year after year for the candidates of their
party, believing them to be slandered when
their villanies are exposed"
The existence of party lines, Of course
is unavoidable, and within certain limits
the advocacy of party measures is right
enough but is it necessary that partizan
prejudice should interfere with every petty
local Office ? Is it right to allow it TO in
fluence the election of Judge, who in the
enforcement of the laws, must recognize
neither party Is it not doing apositive inju-
ry when it induces man to vote fora can
didate he feels is unfit for the Office he asks,
simply because he is nominated by party
leaders? If we wish to get rid of these
"thieving rings" men must learn to vote
as though there were interests far above
party considerations, and which should not
be sacrificed to partizan success.