Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-29

entertaining precisely the same views, but of
less standing in the community. Ii may be
SAID that the former violated an oath, while the
latter did not. The latter did not have it in
their power TO do so. Ii they had taken the
oath 1t cannot be doubted they would have
broken 1t as did the former class. If there are
any great criminals distinguished above all
others for the part they took in opposition to
the government, they might in the judgment of
congress be excluded from such amnesty.
The condition of the southern states is
unhappllN not such as all true patriotic citizens
would like TO see-social oStTacism for opinions
sake, personal violence or threats towards per-
sons entertaining political views opposed to
those entertained by the majority of the old citi
zens prevents immigration and the flow of much
needed capital into the states lately in rebellion.
| 1t will be happy condition of the country when
the old citizens of the states will take an inter
est in public affairs, promulgate ideas honestly
| entertained, vote for men representing their
| views, and create the same freedom of express
sion and ballot in those entertaining different
| political convictions"
Can il be possible that an organized party for
the reformation of such sentiments as these is
| necessary? Is not such clemency as this entl-
| tied to some generosity and fOrgveness2 Is
| there any system of Impartial suffrage" to
| compare with the broad and practical estimate
| of the value of untrammelled suffrage and dis
| cussion for the peace, and elevation, and pros
perity Of society and the state, here set forth by
one who is charged with tyrannica and usurpl-
| tory designS2 Oh! let the reformers take one
lesson in comprehensive magnanimity from him
| whom they would reform.
| And, in the third place, let those who desire
| an honest and capable body of public servants
| read the following views of the president on
| civil service reform, taken from the same mes
| sage:
at has been the aim of the administration to
| enforce honesty and efficiency in ali public af-
| fairs. Every public servant who has violated
| the trust placed in him, has been proceeded
| against with all the rigor of the law. If bad
men have secured places, it has been the fault
| of the system, established by law and custom,
| for making appointments, or the fault of those
| who recommend for government positions per-
sons not sufficiently well known to them person.
| ally, or who give letters endorsing the charac-
| ter of the seekers without proper sense of the
| grave responsibility which such course de-
| wolves upon them. A civil service reform which
| can correct this abuse is much desired. In mer-
| camille pursuits the business man who gives a
| letter of recommendation to a friend to enable
| him to obtain credit from stranger is regarded
| as morally responsible for the integrity of his
| friend and his ability to meet his obligations.
| A relormatory law which would enforce this
| principle against all endorsers of persons for
| public places would ensure great caution in
making recommendations . At all
| events, the experiment shall have a fair trial"
| Now, in view of the facts that the defalcatious
| under President Grant have amounted to only
| S64, 200, as against nearly two millions under
Andrew johnson, and that the sentiments have
| quoted are the views of the president solemnly
uttered to congress and the country, can you
| conceive that even the widest and bliDdest ere
| former" could find it in his heart to make such
| declarations as the following, which | quote
| from the most elaborate speech yet made
| against the administration, by that apostle of
| universal reform, who has joined Bismark to
| reform Germany, and Gratz Brown to reform
| America? He says:
"But the disgrace of a nep0tism more scam
dalous than anything this republic knows of,
| nepotism which taught every public servant that
| in the opinion of the chief magistrate he might
without improperly, exhaust his official oppor-
tunitieS to make himself and his kinslolk COM
Portable, was followed by practices more directly
touching the character and integrity of our in
situations. | will not speak here of the cases of
embeZzlement, defalcation, fraud and downright
thevery which occurred under this administra-
ton, and the number and magnitude of which,
as they accumulated, have startled the taX-pay-
| ing people. There were things more directly
affecting our public morals"
Now, whatever these may be, we are willing
TO put the acts and words of the president
against the words and acts of his accuser on this
point, leaving il for the departments at Wash
ington TO furnish the evidence, and the people
and history to pronounce the verdict.
Against this policy and endeavor of the adj
ministration which l have briefly sketched and
which is evidently regarded with high satisfac-
ton by the American people, complaints of
greater or less magnitude are made, with an
earnestneSs not easily accounted for, when we
remember that thus far in the campaign every
other policy than the republican seems to be
virtually abandoned. | do not refer to minor
matters such as Santo Domingo, which was long
since laid aside, nor to certain personal re-
Elections, which those who know him intimate.
ly, and in whom we have entire confidence,
warmly and Indignantly refute and deny. But
to the grave dangers which are said to threaten
the republic from a tendency to centraIism, and
an unwillingnesS on the part Of Gen. Grant and
his party to extend peace and reconciliation to
the south. And now of CENTRALISM2 What |
is iii Misguided by misinterpretation of
their constitutional rights and relations, certain
states rebelIed against the federal government |
and were brought back to their allegiance by |
force OF arms. They were directed in their work |
OF restoration by the Legislative branch of that |
government which had crushed their rebelOus |
operations. They were brought under an |
amended constitution, which lOrbids the states |
to regulate citizenship aud suffrage And in |
some OF them congress has empowered the presi- |
dent 70 suppress murders and outrages which |
they were unable or unwilling to suppress them |
selves. This is called centraliSm, to develop |
which to imperial perfection the president has |
formed military ring, composed of couple of |
yonng gentlemen IN the white house, who have |
been detailed for service as his private secre- |
talles Now there may be great danger in all |
this; but for one thing we cannot be too grateful
and that is that the danger has not yet reached |
Massachusetts. 1t is evident that we enjoy here |
still outright to regulate our domestic affairs in
our own way. Our railroad system we still |
control to suit ourselves. We establish our sys-
TEN of education, our penal code, our charitable |
and reformatory institutions, and assign their /
duties to our counties and towns. We run to /
boards and commissions and investigations; |
and we pursue policy which has been sharply |
criticised, and to reform which eloquent popular |
appeals are often made. But all such appeals |
have thus far been addressed to the people of |
Massachusetts. No address has yet been made |
to congress or the president, that am aware of |
to strike down our fish commission, or cut up |
our board of agriculture with the sword These |
privileges Massachusetts still enjoys am hap |
Ply to say; and | have no doubt she will con. |
tinue to enjoy them so long as Plymouth rock /
and Bunker hill remain, so long as town meet /
ings shall endure, and so long as General /
Grant and the republican party continue in /
power. But let her endeayor to dsfranchise |
her citizens, and have no doubt somebody will /
assert the fifteenth amendment within her Dor |
ders, in way that she will long remember. No.
gentlemen, the constitutional and legitimate /
rights of the states have not vet been invaded, |
or even threatened; and it is not wise and pa. /
triotic to clamor about centraIisn and at the /
same time support impartial suffrage for the 1
benefit of a "dominant race D." or aS n cloak IN L
lyulfluv atrnpitina ox,ar,, - .t,o