Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-02-08
THE COMING REFORM.


There is reason to hope that the recent
exposure of so much corruption and
downright bribery aud stealing in high
nlaces will have salutary effect upon
the public mind. The people unfortu.
nately within the last few years be-
came rather accustomed TO the easy vir-
tue that prevailed in official circles, and
began to take it as as a matter Of course
that Congressman and others elected or
appointed to public trusts we're in the
habit of turning their positions TO good
financial account, and that while not ae-
tually bribed they indirectly made more
money than their regular legal pay liked
by law This decay Of public morals
began during the war when civil law was
made subservient to the military, and
came on gradually afterward, aud from
year to year the greedy cormorants that
fattened and grew corpuleut on the
yitals OF the nation grew holder
and acquired q feeling Of security
that defed criticism or moral sentiment
But as time rolled on, and taxes rolled
mn mountain high, aud the price OF la
bor went down, while the necessaries OF
life grew deaser in an adverse proportion,
the public mind, with one accord, became
FESTIVE and feverish, and the murmurs
of the masses began to be heard by
those who had so long misled them. 1t
was the muttering Of the storm, which
might at any time break forth upon
their heads. Pomeroy heard it at To-
peka when his plans we're thwarted
and be heard his name banded by
reckless crowd, that heaped impreca-
tious on his head and shouted, Hang
bim-hang him to lamp postl" But no
such foolish suggestion was carried out,
and Pomeroy lives to feel his shame and
deep disgrace. The people of Kansas
have repudiated him. He is terribly
punished. Others have been detected
in practices as bare-faced and contemp-
tible. but have not suffered the pen
atty. Their time must come, or an
aroused people will take the law
into their own hands sooner or later,
and visit summary vengeance upon
those who have prostituted official trusts
and neglected the public welfare for pri-
vate gain. 1t will be well for the nation
il all charges affecting the character Of
Lublic men are cleared up by searching
investigation, that the guilty may be pun
ished with the severity they deserve and
the innocent vindicated If the peo
pie will 90 back to the tests proposed
by Jefferson, and only ask of candi-
date, Is he competent; is be honest?'
something Of our ancient purity of gov
eminent may be restored. But the way
we have been running for the past few
years would bring moral social and f.
nancial ruin on any nation in the world
We must return to the old landmarks OF
honesty and good faith between the peo
pie and their rulers, or go ont to sea
without rudder or compass. 1t requires
no prophetic eye to see that the
laws must be enforced and the guilty
brought to punishment regardless of
wealth, official power and social posi-
ton, or the republic will 60 to pieces Of
its own corruption and lack of essential
principles. All indications at present
point to reform We hear Of it in the
halls Of Congress, in our State Legisla-
lures and our local administrations
Reform is needed in every direction,
but it can be brought about with proper
results only by the enlightened senti
ment and patient determination Of the
people. Alterations are not always re-
forms, nor do sweeping charges always
produce the effect intended. Sudden
changes are hazardous, and often prove
to be mistakes. True reform must
always be sustained by an intelligent
public to be beneficial, and is never
wrought in day. The developments Of
the last few months have set the people
to thinking, and made them conscious
that great wrongs have been committed
against them, and they stand ready to
do their part in correcting the evils that
affect our civil aud social systems by the
most judieious measures that can be
adopted with hope Of success. Reform
is the watehword and will be the motto
Of grand peoples party, irrespective Of
political antecedeuts, in the next general
election. The Republican party can
only protractits existence by taking the
lead in driving the money-changers out
Of the temple, and making honesty and
capacity the tests for Office 1t is the
only national party left, and its timbers
are creaking at every joint and seam.
Another famous jury in New York
has been impaneled to find out, this
time, the difference between Tweedle