The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-06-12
How 10 Bring About Reform.

In times of war bad men III ay win great
victories and assume positions of powe,
without the consent of the people- Am-
blsioE, eGerey. genius, are the elements
that WIN against the popular viii In times
OF pubic disturbance. But In politics
the rule is reversed, or should be. No
man can gain political power without the
cen sent OF the people. A single vote
Can defeat the man Of energy and amhi-
tion. At the head OF an army he might
control the nation, but before the silent
voice OF the ballot box he is powerless.
Herein hes the strength of our institu-
tiohs- The people govern, and no man
can assume power unless called by the
voice o. tine majority. If bad men are
elected to oifice 1t is the fault of the Jeo-
! pie, not the system which tolerated The
election. The remedy is with the pei lie.
Ihey can undo what they have done.
lie same power that placed bad ,uan
ln othce can soon displace him. Cor~1pt
| nen have crept into power, either under
| iaise pretenses Or through chicanery or
ifaud They do not truly represent the
| neoiie or the party that elected them.
iEsir numbers are small, but this can
De no excuse fer their Continuance How
can the party purify Itself of these un-
worthy members? Democracy answers,
destroy the party that is responsible for
their presence. This wrald ia the De
strection of magnificent temple to get
rio rld o. . few lmperfeciinns III the structure.
Inc Republican party is to day the
temple OF freedom. lis foundation is as
solid as the granite rocks of New Enel nd.
The edifice which has been i,nidiny for |
the past sixteen years is as perfect as |
human ingenuity could make IT, II has |
few taults-a few imperfect blocks mar
It's beauty. Common sense points Gu.
the remedy. Remove them, put sub
stantiat ones in their rlace, and the
toltlcal structure remains uEim,tairel.
The neopie must exercise iuore care in
the selection of public officials. Men
must be chosen for their honesty as we'll
as their ability. Priyate morality should
be the basis of public virtue. Select good
men Ter Office and official corruption will
soon be unknown.
How can this selection be'1nade? The
answer is as simple as the question.
lage part in the selection! To ignore
the primary meeting, and accept as "A
party necessity the choice of others, is
to invite the evil We complain of. There
are tens Of thousands Of citizens who
would stand in line for hours or lose a
ray to deposit their vote. who could not r
be induced to attend the primary meet ,
ing and take part in the selection of
They overlook the most i'm. :
portant part of their duty-the choice Z
IF the men for whom they are willing to p
work ard vote. :;
The good men of the nation must take n
more active part in its politics. They h
must help create tickets as well rs en- ;,
lorse them. They must take a leading 7
'art IN all primary meetings, assume the
ontro! of our conventions, and thus give 4
haracter and stability to the politics of y
he Gay. .
Purify the fountain head Of political G. G.
over and the streams thar flow there :
rom will be pure and healthy. Rescue
be party from the hands of men who n
lake politics a trade, and the debaSing b
which tend to corfuution will v.
10 longer exist. We look to the Repub- >,
can press of our country for the poiiti
lI reform We need-a reform within tie | G
arty hat shall make better that which n
already good, and effectnally drive r
ON It's ranks everything that tends to r.
'rnlsh its name, or lower the standard g,
Its III orality .-RepubEc {