The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-10-18


less taxes, and begun to equal
what remain. A large majority
: the people want q relief from all
ternal taxes except on tobacco q
liquors, and the reduction of dut
on imports to revenue basis.
NJ Tariff reform is an arduous taS
- and the Republican party may fail
effect it, but let US give time and
H. fair trial, and let US hold the OPP
Sc sition responsible for its share of t
es work before pronouncing judgme
It against party which has heretofo
Ar proved equal to every popular d
)r mand.
l' PUBLIC LANDS.
N At the last session of Congres
n the House of Representatives arrests
n the waste of public lands. Countlei
/. schemes were pending for the a
e sorption of vast regions of the N
tional domain. The Senate was drii
h ing along in the old wssteful wa
Q Prominent members OF tne House
!. both parties, professed to have r
q form in general, but support eac
!. project in particular as 6 meritoriou
exception. A majority of the Hous,
made up from both parties, resolut,
ly resisted and finally defeated th
a strongest schemes and established
the House the doctrine that no ful
' ther grants are to be made to corpol
! ations or monopolies, and that iol
! feited lands shall be restored to sei
tlement. The Senate refused to yield
and during a recess a decision of
Judge has been procured declarinI
, that lands granted and forfeited b
failure to perform the SS65IditioI S5ii iiti Q
the grant can not be reopened to set
tlement without affirmative action b,
Congress or decree of court.
/. This may delay and possibly pre-
vent the restoration to the people O
millions OF acres of land forfeited b.
corporations for while the Hous,
will refuse to make new grants or h
renew old ones, the Senate, less OBJ
servant Of the wishes of the people
may refuse to pass any measure II
recover possession of lspsed grants
Shulj such lock occur, it will re
quire energetic action to enforce
reform on the Senate and Cabinet
The people can not act too promptly
or firmly, and they should trust nc
man in Washington who is not with
them on this question.
CIVIL SERVICE RKroRx.
We have inaugurated reform of the
civil service to establish better meth
ods of selecting public officers and q
higher standard Of qualification.
All disinterested men see that the
present system is corrupt and cor
rupting, yet more arduous task has
rarely been given to statesmen than
to reform abuses without infringing
the Constitution.
Fortunately, the President is ear
nestly in favor of the measure, and
while he remains in Office there will
be no limit on legislative action, ex
cept what the Constitution imposes.
The evil to be reached is that form
of selfshness which leads men to
seek and use the public trusts for
private advsntsge-the loss of power
and the love of gain. Every form
of official corruption is rooted here !;
there is much outcry against nepo-
tism 1t should not be praised lest
it be initiated, nor defended lest it be
continued. But nepotism is not the
worst abuse which springs from this
evil, 1t is but one form of favorit
ism. When one having or controll-
ing the appointing power gives q
place to personal friend, or a politi-
cal follower, because of such rela-
tionshlp, he betrays his trust.
NepOtism is offensive to partisans,
because it ignores their claims and
denies them the spoils but it is less
dangerous, because more limited
than personal or partisan favoritism.
No family connection, however
large, will compare with q political
clique, ring, faction, or party. And
the more widely this evil OF favoritism
extends, the greater the conspiracy
the more dangerous il is. Aspiring
men rise by the use of patronage
among their adherents. This is cor
ruption not so gross as peouniary bri-
berry, but moreinjurious to the public
1t is double corruption, bribery by
bribery. Thus men without merit,
lise to places of honor and power,
and use them for private ends, while
all around and below them is a mass
Of corruption. 1t is idle to single
out one Of the system and denounce
nepotism, while you tolerate exchange
and barter in cffice. We must
reform the whole system.
The Republican party has begun
the work. Some of its leaders are
willing to relinquish power. The
President proposes limitations of
his own prerogatives. 1t has been
said that no political party can purify
itself 4; but what other party ever
offered to lay down patronage, and
submit its candidates for competition
with its opponents
There is hope for the final success
of this reform. 1t is already in linn.
tied operation. The President is
resolved to press it, and both parties
are pledged to support it. Those
Republicans who have heretofore
opposed it, and those Democrats who
have refused to aid it, are bound in
honor to unite with its original friends
10 securing its triumph.
OFFICIAL CORRUPTION.
Under the present Administration
we have seen what is not familiar In
politics. party voluntarily fer.
retIug out defslcations and crimes
of its own members, and bringing the
guilty to trial and punishment-but
the most effective remedy is with the
people and in the ballot.
Pending the Presidential contest,
under cover OF the federation incident
to such a crisis, bad men take cour-
age, seize party machinery and use
their ill-gotten gains to get more.
Tney appear in convention and be-
come candidates for office. The Ma
tional tide may carry such men
through, but it is hoped that the
people will distinguish between the
good cause and the bad men who
betray it; and show by their votes
thau can defeat hishnnast canditates