Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-09-12
TOlerating COrruption.

Under this head the New York Mercantile
youruaI, in a recent issue, contains some very
plain and practical thoughts for those who love
purity in government also for those who en- e
courage corruption by winkng att. The form
er will absorb the ideas advanced aud fin them
in harmony with his own thoughts, while the
latter will find in them mirror in which he can
see himself as others begin to see him. We
append the article below:
When attention is called to the governmental
corruption developed by various recent investi-
cations, some men answer, ooh, well, there has
always been corruption in all governments
Beside, these charges are mostly for political
effect, by opponents of the party in power or II
not, perhaps those who make them have private
gricfs. The ends of government can not usual
ly be attained without some corruption, and
these enls are of far more import than any NAL
feasance in Office"
Do the men who talk thus know what they
are doing? DI they understand that to such
talk as this, kept up for years, is owing in a
great degree the tremendous frauds OF the Tam
many ring? Do they realise that when they
speak thus ligh tly of the vlest political prac-
tices, they give these practices direct eucourag-
ment, and assume part of the responsibility fol-
the wrongs they tncitlY permit Do they re-
member that the only safety for the freedom Ci
all is in resolutey standing by the freedom oi
each, and that when they treat as matter OF
course the violation Of the rights of another
they most forcibIy invite the violation Of thelr
own? Do they forget that the term corruption
Is but another mama for injustice, tyranny,
wrong of every kind, and that its essence is the
defeatof the very ends of government? And
have they failed to observe that submission u
injustice, tyranny and varied wrong has been
the destruction of every people whose history is
complete? Are they willing to admit that thou
sands of years of gathered experience have
taught this generation nothing? To grope witt
closed eyes along the same path that all the
dead nations have trodden, and walk at last into
the same pitfall3' The spirit evinced by such
remarks is uEmanly, pusillanmous and despic-
able. Ii 1t does not show that the speakers at
heart sympatbize with corruption auo hope to
gain opportunities to practice it il it does not
show that they are leagued with those who prac-
tice it, and are secretly prQfting by it in some
way, it does show that they fail to appreciate
the privileges of freemen that their moral per-
ceptious are hunted and il raises the quss ton
whether they do not deserve to be robbed to
lose the liberties for which they do not seem to
care.
The true spirit for every enlightened citizen Of
a free couHtry is to frown constantly on cor
ruption and to attack il ceaselessly by every
proper means to attack it when strong, but al.
90 to watch its beginnings and crush it when il
is weak tO'study the system OF the govern
ment and demand that opportunities for NAL
feasauco shall be removed, aud methods which
create temptation shall be abolished to qualify
himself by research and reflection for resistance
that shall be not only brave and strong, but
skillful and effective. Thus shall he deserve
aud keep the name Of freeman. But he who
tamely valves the question Of the truth o.
charges Of official wickeduess, and prates in~
stead about personal motives on the part Of
those who make such charges, brings himself
into suspicion and contempt among upright men
and doss what he can TO hurry his country 10
decentralization, ,despotism aud destruction.