The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-10-28
The Republican on Thievery.

The Ottawa Republican seems to think that
because the four leading thieves in New York
city claim to belong to the Democratic party,
there Is no other political corruption worthy
OF attention. Does it forget that, in order to
carry out these schemes of plumber, these New
York democrats gave half the city offices to
republicans so that so far as either party is
responsible for those wicked transactions, the
disgrace must fall On both alike2 Does it
forget that every democratic paper through
out the nation that every democratic conven-
ton in the whole country, has denounced
these frauds and repudiated the thieves ?
Does it forget that while the republicans have
been in power their congress has become
so corrupt that hardly as many righteous men
are lett among them as were required to save
Sodom and Gomorah from the doom OF fire }?
Does it forget the sckening corruptions
which, during republican rule, have grown
up IN our own Legislature, of which this same
man Snapp was leading spirit, so far as his
feeble abilities would allow him to be one,
and it really takes but small amount of in
tellect in member of the Legislature or of
congress to take bride for vote? Does it
forget the admitted and shocking venality of
the republican legislatures IN the southern
states That is Louisiana alone they voted
tifty-fOur millions of state bonds to private
companies, of which they themselves were
tho nriy,csno1 Il Iofo
from a further issue of state bonds because
they saw they would defeat their object of
greed by rendering the bonds utterly worth.
less? That the corruptions in the South Car
DINA legislature were none the less fragrant,
were of the same character, and scarcely less
in amount? So in Georgia, Alabama Flori-
ola, and, IN fact, in all the southern states
where the republicans bear undisputed rule.
Yes, our neighbor has forgotten all this,
for he has failed to denounce them, or even
in his modest way, to exprest a single disap-
proval. Nor is he singular in this respect
The same may be said of the whole republican
press from one end of the Union to the other
If possible, we make the solitary exception of
the Chicago Tribune. Oh say they, We
must hush them up and conceal from the PEG.
pie as far as possible the damnabc truths, or
it wiU hart the party! The party that will
conceal such iniquity becomes party to it.
If but solitary instance Of corruption could
be brought home to republicans, and then
promptly and in fitting terms all the papers,
speakers and coventions denounced the fraud
and repudiated the thieves, it might claim to
have washed its hands Of the guilt, and, with
an unblushing face, ask the honest voters
Of the country 10 continue their confidence
IN it and give it their support.
But what do we see, Instead of
exposing the fraUds and denouncing
them, We find them approving them by their
silence and acquiescence and more, they select
one of the chefest among those who have become
so demoraized by politics traffic as to think all
is honest in polite, for their standard bearer
and hold him up as proper man for the suiira-
yes OF an honest people. Such ia the feast the |
republican convention has invited it, followers
TO- When men OF real worth in all the phi
yata relations of life, which characeri2es the !
eGi;or Of the Ottawa Repujlcaa, dare no. say
in gle word in condemnation OF practices which
10 cannot help to see is surely leading the couU-
ny to destruction, and hiss so far lost his indie.
,endence to give his support TO such man
10 Mr. Snapp in preference TO man like Mr..
leland, against whose integrity or capacity his
wn self.respect will prevent him from saying
ingle word, for should he do so he knows it
vould DO pure invention, which this whole
community, who have known Mr. Leland for
more than thirty-ive years, would Indignantly
eny, then indeed it is high slime for the people
themselves to take the matter in their own
lands, repudate their political leaders and ex-
rcise the rightful power which they possess, and
ry if possible to redeem the country frem the
anger which threatens it.
1t is with no common satisfaction that we re-