The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1872-04-25

aiity ~ prevent that influence from beeom
ing de>potic and cGrrupting. But we ar,
sarrolh ei by extraordinary circums tances
Oar civil wax, as all great disturbances II
history, has stimulated and fostere.I q
sihr't Of speculation AMI johberv, Which
3 a. na'r oir panic concerns the sub ect
? 't fapacity AMI piun,.er to an unusual lie
gree. 1t has ma'ie our public morals easy
AM loose. Corruption and peeuation in
wade our political life with alarming bold
ness.
1t became the supreme duty of those in
power 10 check this dangerous tendency
with yigor and determination. To accom-
piish this great end, three things were ne
ceSsary; that those In high places, whose
conduct Is visible to all the world sboulJ
set All example of sciupuious purity and
lofty unseltshness: tnat the ruijpr Marty
should, In its criticism aAd in the handing
OF Its power, be severer e,en arainst the
shortcomings and trespasses Of il, own
members than against those of its onpo-
nents; and lastly, that r present system
OF C!Nl Service, which has become the hot.
house OF SO many alarming abuses, should
be 50 reformed as to make honesty. canac-
lty, ani nIelity to the public interests the
criterion OF qualification instead of partisan
service, and thus to destroy the corrupting
and tyranncal Influence Of the Government
patronage.
Las this been done? Has the example
OF those IN hign and conspicuous places
been such As to be ii visible rebuke to the
spirit Of selfish greed which is demoraIiz-
ing our political life? Has that high stand
ari been set Of single devotion to the pub
lie interest and noble disnteres tedness |
Will not 20 into an odious criticism of de
tails. lie who runs may read the history
of our days. But surely nepotism far
more reckless than anything of the kind
the annals of this Republic tell of, wa, far
less calculated to impress the public ser
wants and the people with the idea that de-
votion to the public good should be the
supreme motive Of those intrusted with au
thorlty than that he who Is put into Office
anI power may with perfect propriety first
use his opportunities to benrtt himself
and his I'm. The teachings of such an ex
ample cannot fail to be widely demoraliz-
mg when they proceed from the highest
place of honor and authority.
ADMINISTRATIVE RECKLESSNrss.
iol remember the outcry which was
raised in the times Of James Buchanan,
when he employed the patronage of
the Government to sustain himself
AMI promote his own political in
tereSts against those of his
party who a lvocated different opinions. n
} s'mes Buchanan lived to-day he would
have to admit that in that
line OF business he WAS
~ t'.,,
the hand of the National Admini, ,trat;on
been thrust INTO the loca! politics of States
with greater aalacity. Never ha, the pa.
ronase controlling the public services been
more rfcNieSsiy nseI to promote the inter /
st oi factions, or 10 further personal aspir- /
atoms. \, in Fclnce, un Ter Lou. Nano /
con rule, We heard of official candi,!atures /
ictated ami sGpporte, by the Government. |
30 we hear IN this Republic all over the .
ani, ot Grant candidates for State Offices.
ma tor Congress now, whose recommended
ION Is the otrcial stamp, who are to be
supported 10y al who desire the favor of
he Government. and whose personal SER
'ices are expected a a onlitiou of that
Egpurt.
1t was our pride as Republicans once to
iT, tlat III 40 party there had ever existed
ach freedom OF criticism and individual
'plu0n. DO 1t was when Abraham Lin
;; r.,,.;, %, ,,, rts,' ,.t ieat. E!ry Rp lbiicln
.tnlid criticism, and who respected every
onest conviction, even if that conviction
lu counter t. his personal desires. But
hings have changed. If now YOU ever
oucelye an opinion contrary to the inter
sts and controlling desires of the powers
nat be, be careful not to give it utterance. /
| he good times Of Abraham Lincoln are .
10 NOR. \ loyal Republican to-day Wi /
h.nk and speak only bv roval perm, sslon, |
II he will, in his most legitimate aspira-
ions, find Il most resentiul Government /
niluencc in his way; he Will find himself
denounced as a traitor to the Rcpubiican /.
.ause, if he thinks that cause "ntitlei to /
b CHER considerations than the personal
interests of the party chiefs, md he VIII
hear pack of hounds at his heels, whose
bark would be terrible, could they conceal
the collars they wear around their necks.
Never was IA boiler, a more un-repuhican
attempt ma lie t. terrorze and subjugate to
one Will the free lom of opinion Ill party,
and tn press its whole machinery INTO the
service of a selfish interest. | have heard
letters rcad in Congress from certain parts
Of the South still IN state Of confusion
when the name of the writer was withheld
lest he be exposed to the vengeance OF his
enemies; and now have seen letters from
importing merchants in this very city, ex-
pressing hearty sympathy in the national
reform movements we are engaged IN, but
stating, also, that they do not dare openly
take part in it, because active sympathy
Coaciudea on Second page.