Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-02-08
cmAT WITH rmR EpITon.


M Reed - Circumstances often control the
deslinles Of men, aud upon one notable occa-
sion within the memory OF the present gensr'
alton, II proved the winding sheet TO the polit-
ical hopes of prominent statesman. Why
not then, control lesser mortals2 Long since
the determination was made TO visit the sane
tum of aye Editor" and at his familiar table
amid exchanges and prosy communications,
discourse upon the current topics anOat In
newspaperdom but circumstances have un-
vi now forbidden me the pleasure of a per.
sonal greeting. What mighty events In the
history Of the country have transpired, and
how many political hopes have been blasted
since our last cliatp Yea even now Is fore
shadowcd revolution In the country which
Is likely TO overwhelm and destroy the char
actcrs and life-work at statesmen, under whose
former teaching it has becu the delight of SO
many thousands TO sit. We look back at the
revelations and the astonishing disclosures of
fraud and corruption under the rule OF Tam
any in New York year ago, and wonder how
such things could be and ere the guilty arc
finally arraigned, there comes another bomb.
shell" laden with the missiles of war, and
hurls its weapons of destruction without re.
gard to position or eminent service, and leaves
foul stain upon the iairest names of the land,
What Tammany and its numerous rings"
concocted in New York, has been more than
duplicated under the wiley and seductive in
tluences of Credit Mobilier," and to day the
people stand aghast at the revelations which
are transpiring at Washington. 1t is not alone
that the Government has been swindled out OF
forty millions of dollars in the building of the
Pacific Railway, but that men heretofore high
in the confidence of the peOple-entrusled with
the legislation and the liberties of continent
should beiray those sacred trusts, and when
confronted with their guilt, add perjury to
their already Infamous deeds 1t is needless to
captulate here the names of the fallen, but
let us lay to our hearts the sad lesson 1t con.
,ains.
And then MIR. Reed, look away yondcl ia
"bleeding Kansas,"-a territory that has been
baptscd in blood for Freedom-how great the
fall of her Representatives in the Senate
There is Caldwell and Pomeroy the former
undergoing an ordeal preparatory to expulsion
| itViii MS scat, anu tno ihttcl Just tuTdppeQ Ill
corrupt influences to secure his reelection Il
the Senate. 1t is not well to dwell upon th,
infrmities of men, but there is duty tn,
Press owes the country.
| But let us turn from the contemplation o
these matters, and advert to topics which en-
livens the hopes and renders this an era o
progress. Among these is the Civil Servic,
System as recognized by the head of the Gov
crnment Political hacks may quarrel over il
but strictly enforced, it would go far in weed
ing out the corrupt pliances that have crep
into almost every channel of the Government
Another Is the abolition of the Franklin
Privilege, reform that has long been DE-
manded by the people-but retarded becaus
it took opportunities of personal reward fros
the law makers. The wagon loads of useles
Pub. Doc" that are slowed away in old gai
rets and now and then carted off to the rag
buyer, attests how large proportion of til
literature received under the frank Of NJ.
is appreciated.
But to come nearer home-let me have yor
ear, dear Editor, before leaving the sanctum,
congratulate you upon the disposition evince
10 ignore conventions in the approaching ele
ton for the Constitutional Convention. ri
Sentinel breaks ground in its favor, and yo,
village contemporary assumes likewise, a b
coming attitude that is at least hopeful. L
the good work 60 on. HORACE