Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-05-08

nd Streets over the Post once. II
THE WAY 10 REFoRM.
Whatever Is wrong in the goy-
ernment Of the city, county, State,
or nation easily and securely rests
with the people to eradicate
No man or set Of men can assume
power in this land of ours, except
through the voice of the people.
Az rule, If bad men succeed in OBJ
tanning power, the fault rests with the
people, and the remedy is with them.
Whenever bad men have crept into
power, they have done SO under false
pretenscs, or through chicanery and
fraud. Their numbers compared with
the good men is not SO very large, but
this 10 no excuse for their continuance.
Of. course we do not expect perfection,
we never expect the time will come
when the public service will be free
from bad men; we can never expect to
effec moro than attain. perfection
80 nearly as our best efforts to
that end will effect it. The time
never has been and never will be in
this world, when bad men will not, to
q greater or less degree, even invade
the sancity Of the family, and infuse
their poison therein, much more IL
able are they to enter into and corrupt
the public service. But how are we to
best bring about the most attainable
state Of purifcation7 Democracy an
sweis destroy the party in power; an
answer that is evidently pregnant with
the sentiment. 'eThe wish is father to
the thought" Another has we'll said,
what We would write as our answer to
the query, as follows: sTo take this
advice of Democracy, would be the de-
struction ofa magnificent temple to get
rid of few imperfections in the struct-
ure. The Republican party is to-day
the temple Of freedom. Its founda-
ton is as solid as the granite rocks Of
New England. The cdifice which has
been building for tho past sixteen
years is as perfect as human ingenuity
could make 1t. 1t has few faults-a
few imperfect blocks mar its beauty.
Common sense points out the remedy.
Remove them, put substantial ones in
their place, and the political structure
remains unimpaired.
Tie people must exercise more care
in the selection Of public officials.
Men must be chosen for their honesty
as well a. their ability. Private NOR
ality should be the basis Of public vir-
tue. Select good men for Office and
official corruption will soon be large-
ly cradicated.
How can this selection be made ?
The answer Is as simple as the ques-
tion. Take part in the selectionl To
ignore the primary meeting, and ac-
cept rs = party necessity the choice Of
otherA 10 to invite the evil we COM
plain ef. There are tens Of thousands
Of citizens who would stand In line FOR
hours. or lose . day to deposit their
votes, who could not be induced to at
tend the primary meeting and take
part in the selection Of the candidates.
They overlook the mostimportant part
Of their duty-the choice of the men
for whom they are.willing to work and
vote.
The good men of the nation must
take moro active part in its politics.
They must help create tickets as well
as endorse them They must take q
leading part in all primary meetings,
assume the control Of our conventions
and thus give character and stability
to the politics Of the day."
The members of Congress of the
West and Northwest are invited to
assemble in convention at the City of
st. Louis, Mo-, on the 18th inst, to
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