The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-08-19

SeltatlNeS OI u sOSeiSiSu RSoPiSr pas -
mere petitioners; for the President may
grant or withhold his favors, and, if he
desires, he may sell those favors as the
price of acquiescing in his schemes,
against their consciences. Look at the
President himself. The greatness OF
his authority prepares for him the most
seductive temptation to use the appoint
ing and removing power as mere ma
chinery of tyranny and corruption for
his selfish ends, and all endeayoring to
gain his favor, he is surrounded by a
class ofsychophants who make him be-
lieve that, whatever he may do, all hu.
manity. is beyond measure delighted
with the performance.
THE PRESIDENTS KINDRED.
The cousins and brothers.in-law Of
the President may, as officers, be no
worse than others; but when he puts
them to the public crib, the Chief Of
the State teaches his subordinates by
his example, which is everywhere visi-
bic, that in his opinion a public Office
may be used for selfish ends, to make
out of it what can be made. And who
will wonder, when these subordinates
also make out of their offices what can
be made +? When the Chief Of the State
takes presents, and then puts the donors
into high offices and dignities, the men
so appointed may be very worthy men,
and the presents may have had moth
ing to do with their appointments, but
the Chief of the State has shown his
subordinates that, in his opinion, an
officer may take presents, and then
grant his official favors to the donors
in an official way; and who will then
wonder, when the subordinates, follow
ing the high example, also take pres
ents and give their official fayors 10 the
donors? The New York papers are
making much clamor over the TACT that
while Republican Conventions pass res
olutions in favor OF civil service reform,
a United States marshal declares to
subordinate officer, whom he has just
removed, that for the removal there
were only political reasons, and none
arising out of any official shortcomings.
Is that surprising, when the Chief OF
the Government, after having declared
himself in his message in favor Of civil
service reform, continually and persist;
emily removes officers whose official
conduct was unimpeachable, merely for
the purpose of putting political tools in
their places-when he, as | have shown
to you in one instance, carries the trade
in consciences so far that the world
laughs at it? Like master, like man.
That in our days, this
poison descends in such streams from
the highest place, is certainly a mistor-
tune, but it is a greater misfortune that
party spirit covers such acts, which un-
dermine official honor in the whole
Republic, under the mantle Of rCspecta-
bility.
TIE CURE FOR EVIL.
Yes, it is my conviction that the
American people, il they desire to re.
store the original purity Of our public
life, must direct their attention to the
head as well as the members Of the
body polite. They have to prove that,
when the head Of the State does not
understand the great responsibility Of
his example, it is not indifferent to the
people, and that the people consider
the moral tone OF our public life i'm.
portant enough to distribute their IA
vors accordingly. With the rose.water
of flattery, such cancers cannot be cured.
With polite silence, or smooth figures
of speech, such evils cannot be eradica-
ted. 1t requires determination, and ]
hope we shall not have to wait for that
until the disease has become incurable.
PARTY SPIRIT.
1t is blind party spirit that fosters
corruption in covering it. 1t is blind
party spirit that fights necessary re.
forms like that Of the civil service, be-
cause it turns its abuses to its advan-
tage 1t is blind party spirit which ren.
ders possible arrogations Of power and
violations OF the Constitution, by deem
ing it its interest to submit. 1t is par
ty spirit that breaks boldness OF thought,
that falsifes truth Of speech, that con.
fuses our feeling of duty, and that
strives 10 educate US to moral coward
ice. 1t is time that barrier should
be set to this baneiul influence, for
every day increases the danger which
grows rom it. have already indicated
that the increased power Of the Govern.
ment renders a more careful watch
necessary, and more conscientious
maintenance OF the constitutional limi-
tations Of its power. And still greater
must be our caution in view OF the
colossal accumulations Of capital in the
hands Of great corporations, railroad
companies, etc, which consolidate
themselves as monopolies, continually
growing stronger, and will already ex-
ercise formidable and almost incal-
culable power over our local as well as
national interests. Already we are
accustomed to the phrase, This or
that railroad company owns this or
that State, Executive, Legislature,
Courts, and all" and, unfortunately, it
appears but too true in many cases.
How greatthe moneyed power OF these
corporations will be in ten years; how
extensive its ownership in Governors,
Legislatures and Courts OF Law
Whether they will then, with absolute
power, give US laws, or impose taxes
upon US according to their pleasure,
who can tell?