Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-06-28
Republican state Ticket.
Is it Honest2 Is It Consistent Z

Is it Honest? Is it Consistenti
Every one who Is familiar with the history of
politics knows, or ought 10 know that politicians
change sides, or, in the parlance of the day,
turn their coats.
This in former times was considered dishon.
able, but Of late years has become so frequent
an occurrence that it excites but little surprise
aud occasions few remarks. An eminent states
mlu once said that q man who changes his opin-
ion shows that he is wiser to-day than he was
yesterday , This may be true In a general sense,
but when a mans political action Is changed
ftom one extreme TO another, is it any evidence
that his opinion has been mo lifted, or that he
has become wiser than he was yesterdayH' By
no means. Mems views and sentiments do not
necessarily udergo a change to produce an
anomaly in their political course. Aud 1t may
be fesrtessiy asserted that mans vote, or lis
adhesion to party affords no criterion of his po-
li,ical teuets.
But Is il honest 2 Is IL consistent ? II is rela-
ted Of certain man that he became insane in
following the course Of politician. And the sin
uosties Of many of our public men at the pres
ent time, would justify belief in the assertion :.
Ia their course there is such absence Of candor
such pnlpsble lack of honor, and so reckless
disregard Of consequences that the public are
amazed.
Conscientiousness or integrity Of opinion is no
longer q sine quo to any political course OF
action. So multifarious are the springs Of such
nction, and so mutable are the principles Cf ths
term is allowable by which men are actuated
that, in too many instances where we expected
t. find honesty aud consistency, Sc haYe looked
for /. in vain.
II is trte saying that Men are bought and
sold like bullocks IN the market And the sud-
den summersaults OF some public men would
seem to corroberate the adage. But have men
become so demoralized and so base that they are
incapable ofa acting uprightly for the sake of JUS
tice nan they aspire to nothing more worthy of
ambition than 'loaves and fishes p has patriot
ism become farce and phila nhropy de'usion
The old hero who enunciatsi tho dogma that
'to the victsrs belong the spoils" perhaps never
dreamt how vile and noxious crop of political
weeds would spring up and flourish from such
smaxim. 1t has had the effect Of narrowing
down all our political contests to mere scram.
hle for patronage and Pelf-place and power
Place, which means hold on the public treasury
and power, to use public funds and make nation
nj affairs subservent to individual purposes.
Dut-Is it honest Is it consistent
One THE meanest and most contemplate
measures resorted to 10 obtain the advantages
just alluded to, IS the scandalous vilifcaton and
mend ,eous charges hurled at the Executive snt
hi' administration by the Democracy aud GRBE
LEY factions. To persist in calling men thieve:
IL ~. i.
tions have sianAlly failed To substantiate AM
wrong by the party so assailed, is the very quint
essence, Of all that is mean, corrupt and aas
tardly. What lamentable picture of repnbli
can life and manners is thus being presented to
the world. Its worst features are rendered mor'
"lious by the fact that these BillingsRats defam
ers do not believe the charges which they hav
made. And not only do they not believe them
but they are aware or their falsity aud know
them to be untrue. But with a demoniacal per
tinacity they continue to parade them before tn
public with the hope Of influencing the votes o
al who are ignorant and credulous enough to b
Rulled by such alrocity. Is it honest Is
consistent2
Ifthe 'sore-heads' were actuated By pure mo
tIves in making such grave accusations aEains
the part;'in power, the many proofs OF thei
m 'ndacity which IA being constantly adduced b,
believers of fair play and justice, should fUreye
silence their enyious tongues, and cover the ira
dIcers with obloquy. But no; On the princi
pie of'anythng to beat GRANT, his opponents
shrink from no means, no matter how vile, an'
no subterfuge or trieking, however contemplate
This is manifest in their acceptance for a candi
date man who they know has been lire-lonJ
enemy to their party aud principles. They d
not believe or even suppose him to be converted
n their political faith. Aud Tow as they hav
seen him stoop to accept nomfnStion, they ca
not believe that he has ignored or prRctieal
nnsaid all the emanaiions Of his pen and tongue
for thirty years past. But large pumber q
Democrats have accepted him, and tits not iEa
probable that this bybrid Or mnnRrsl candidat
may be endorsed by the Baltimore Conventio
"a the regular nominee Of the party. But wit
all the emphasis Of which language Is capnbl
we ask is it honest Is il consistent
II is tacitly admitted by candid and clesr
thinking men, that the present incumbent Of III
White House will be its inmat lie for another term
They know that state of commercial an
financial prosperity is realized in the towns an
bIues VI tue hhsL anu WehtI NoItb anu OOutn
and such as the country has for many years bee
stranger to. 1t is not Of a spasnodie eharac
ter or of mushroom growth bat healthy in
crease OF the means which iusures TO the capi
taTist iair return and to the working ciasse
abundance, comfort and peace. Can such bleS
sings accrue to us under Democratic rule ? Tn
history of the party in the past does not encour
age such hope.
The degradation and pnvertyi nay, The approx
ipatlon TO bankruptcy and ruin of the nation uu
der the administration Of that party, should for
ever serve as beacon 10 warn US against thei
future accession 10 power.
IL has been stated above that The South
prosperous. Now let ms not be misunderstood
We assert that healthy growth Of sound prin
ciples are in operation there, wkieh will, uAde
the present regime, mature ina state Of soeia
and mercantile prosperity Gar superior and in
calculAbly safer than any under the d"ninanc
Of the slave Olgarchy. Dutwith the sccessiO
ofDemocrats to power, this would be changed
Tie traitornns element at the South would b.
stimulated to renewed hope, and thus unsetl
the present status, and perhaps stir mp the vii
drcRs in the secession cauldrUn only to produc
fresh dise1ntsnt. new discOrls and more heart
less venom preserved by tho hope Of ultimate
Democratic ascendency. AgaiG We ask-ls
honest Is II consistent?