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

expose Their business interests to injury.
Yet this is called the free North
THE Ruin or PUBLIC MORALITY.
And what mast be the influence of such
things upon the morality Of our pubic
service aud our political life? Are not
our public ,eryants thus taught that dis
obedience to the political desires OF the
mowers that be i, the one unpartOnable
crime Aye, and that a multitude Of sins
NAV be covered By efficient partisan zeal,
and that even your Tor. MUrphys may be
snlegizei by the President as model Off
esrs, aud the Caseys and Packards at New
Orleans mae be sustained, if they do not
scruple u, serve their employers By what
ever u.eans their Offices place within their
rssaa,la what does the Republican party do
~ ns present organized and controlled ?
Some of its members criticize, denOunce,
and protest, and they are quickly under
the ban. But what of the rest What Of
those who control legislation, and caucuses,
and conventions They see usurpation,
and contempt Of law, sud corruption crop
out in alarming abundance They mast
sec it, because everybody sees it who Is not
blind. But what has become of that hon
est and conscientious selt-criticism who
will not hesitate to uncover and denounce
any wrong that may be righted Where
is that spirit of self-improyemcut which
will treat more severely the dehnquencies
Of party friend than Of an opponent, that
spirit which alone can save our political
life from utter decentralization
Listen to those who to day pretend to
speak for the party. Nepotism, that most
odious excrescence Of power All, very
f1l,. g
relatives when he has the opportuuity-n
mind the moral effect 1t may produce"
The INSCRIPTIONS aud tyrannical use of the
patronage to influence State politics, and
the subiugation Of public opinion by Cow
eminent influence! All, well, the or
ganization, and power. and discipline Of
the party must be maintained, and PRECEDENT
Grant must be reelected" tncOnst.ta-
tional assumptions Of power and breaches
Of law by Government officials? All,
well, we can interpret the Constitution and
the laws to suit the case, ami to make
such triaes appear all right. Corruption a?
=. All, we'll, some objectionable things may
lave happened, and good many nave been
punished; but why hurt the chances % the
party By unnecessary exposures Besides,
fanmany Hall has stolen untold mii-
lions and there was more corruption under
Andrew Johnsons Administration than
now And 80 on to the end Of the ch.p.
ter. And thus the administration is ia
discrlmrnately endorsed by State Conveu
tons, the demand Of a still stronger en-
dorsement by the reelection Of the Prcsi
dent rises louder than ever, and the party
is ruled with high hand.
THE DECAbENCE OF THE RLrUBLICA>
PARTY.
Is this a spirit worthy Of the great part,
which has achived things SO grand and .
which we all were once SO pGoal? /
this the spirit to bring forth those reform,
that elevation Of public morality, wAici
the Republic in these times stands 80 great
Is in need of? If it il true that Iamman
Hall has stolen untold millions, is that
reason why Republicans may steal wit
Ineunity and still possess claim upon til
public confidence Is that reason VIII
we should not denounce tho Wholesa.
plumber going on in some Of tho Southcr
States under so-called Republican rule, an
why we should not, as far as we can, al
in the overthrow 81 tp4t 7Y4ten, Of ~ ~ t h4n.
with the Republican name? Are y. ro
duced to so disgraceful plight as to cla.u
puoHc confidence on the miserable nile:
that Others have been worse than we?
There was probably much more corrup
ton under Andrew Johnsons Admin
istratlon than there is now. But in ON
respect the case stands worse TnJe
Andrew johnson the Republicans calle,
IL corruption, and denounced it AZ cor
ruptlon; while now the attempt is mad,
10 cover 1t with the mantle of rasDpctubili
". am very far from the least desire +,
paiiiaee what happened under Andrew
Johnson; l gladly claim that an improve
mont has taken place. But affirm that
shose who now strive to cover UP and cx
cuse things which they then denounced 4,
corruption, those who called Andrew
Jshnson the most corrupt and the prcS
ent one OF the purest administrations in
orr history, exhibit a failing of their moral
sense, which, if it becomes general, will IN
iee Objects be far more corrupt and corrupt.
ing than anything that happened under
Andrew johnson. 1t is an attemnt at de
cePtion which will stand in the way of
every honest reform, aud tend to utterly
demoralize public sentiment, and in the
lace OF that attempt, 1t is time that those
who mean to promote the cause of reform
ana pure Government IN good faith should
rise up and call things by their right
names.
rhh fANtE OF CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
bhl We arc told that existing abuse, are
neing corrected, and that President Gr,nt
mas declared IN favor of Civil Service Re
FORM, ana has actually appointed a Com
mission TO set it on foot Yes we ba,r
'hat mia attempts are made to correct
certain abuseS-in the New York CD,+nr,
Rouse, Tor lnstance-but we know also
'hal those who in Congress denounced
those abuses, and insisted upon their ex
posure, are IN their turn ,leaoyureI ~
traitors to the Republican party.
as, the President has declared in favor
OF ciEli Service Reform, and appointed a
COMMISSION 10 set II on foot And when
you hsten 70 the Presidents most trusted
friends, ana the most Jealous advocate. of
ms re reelection, You viii hear one say thar
ours Is the best Civil Service in the world.
ana others rldlcahng the fundamental
principles upon which that reform is to
precede, and still Others express the wish
that the attempt should be made in order
70 expose practically the ahsnrditv Of the
idea And when You look for the most
earnest advocates Of that reform. Won find
them, with few exceptions. among those
who arc denounced rs traitors TO the Re-
publican party.
Once, indeed, plan Of reform was pro-
mugated; but, no sooner was it anaGun-
ced than 1t was suspended; and, in the
meantime the patronage is Justify handled.
as before, and the political machinerv j
doing ITS work. have no Ioub rs to the
sincerity OF purpose aninlating the gentle
men now celebrating rules AMI rccuatious
Tor the Civil Service: but if they navc not
YET, they certainly Will presently come to
the conclusion, that a true ami practical
reform of the Civil Service will not be intro
duced by those who strive to benefit them.
selves by Its abuses; nor will tie reopIe
long look for that reform under a Presi-
dent who relies for the promotion Of hi,
own interests upon the friendship of its
enemies. The Presidents Civil Service
reform has been styled a humbug by his
fro n.