Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-06-04


ordinary salary and emoluments of the Office
might be. BY proper management it was pos
sible to make the perquisites the chief induce
ment.
ice-seeking, which. under the ordinary
rules Of etiquette, would be unbecoming to
gentlemen gradually grew into general favor,
ana has become now almost inseparable from the
politlcsi system. Party management has been
constrained to recognize it and to conform to
it's requirements. In fact, it is now the chief
element in party organization and the people
have become accustomed to rate the offices in
Importance, not according to the stipulated
salaries, but to the amount which may be
realized by "good management or from the
opportunities for honorable stealing. Since
1860. and especially during the years Of the
rebellion, the opportunities for plumber and
the forced forbearance of the people in the
presence of threatened disaster contributed to
and Mastered the Generalization which had
previously commenced.
have glanced thus hastily at the remote
causes which have led to the present lamenta-
BILE condition of our political system. A viru-
lent poison has permeated every artery and
vein, and the life of the nation is in imminent
danger. 1t is this diseased condition of the
body polite which has compelled the atten-
ton of the people. 1t is this which accounts
for the widespread, universal interest which
has inaugurated and pressed forward the
movement 1Is uamnlnS euectS are
everywhere apparent. Wherever legislative
bodies assemble, at the national, State, or
county capitals, we hear the charges made of
official corruption. So long as the benefici-
aries of the stealings-I can use no more APP
propriate word-agree among themselves,
there is nothing said; but, runs the old
saw, "when thieves fall out" etc. Recently
the thieves have been falling out so constant
ly, and their charges and counter-charges are
SO thoroughly circulated by the press, that
the people have become alarmed, as well they
may. Any one who will give the subject care
full thought must admit the truth of every
position have thus far advanced.
If this be So is it not evident that any re-
form measures to be effective must be di-
rected to correcting the primary sources Of
the evil. There must be radically thorough
change of policy, in regard to joint undertak-
ings between the public, as represented in
legislative bodies and private corporations.
If the rule be made absolute, admitting no
exceptions, that no subsidy shall be granted
by national State, county. or municipal au
thority, in money, land, or special privileges,
a starting-point will certainly be gained. 1t
needs no further demonstration that building
lines of railway through agricultural or min
ing districts will pay the investors. even
! through undeveloped country, if there be
reasonable intelligence in the management, a
handsome profit upon the actual money re-
been fully demonstrated, too, that there are
landowners and capitalists in every district
where railroad may properly be built, who
derive large profit by such building. Let
them Pay the cost and they will be apt to look
well to economy in the expenditure of their
subscriptions.
have used railway building as familiar
Illustration of the system under which all of
the public enterprises have been conducted.
But it runs through all our public service. In
the erection of public buildings it has been
sought to spend as much money as possible in
a structure of given size. The building ma
terial on the spot, which serves every neces-
/ sity of private enterprise is not good enough
and substitute must be transported from
| New England to New Orleans and the West
ern cities.
| The pay of the Government laborers is gen.
orally above current rates, and the number of
hours per day is reduced to the shortest limit
| The chief qualification for Government en-
ploye is disposition to vote the dominant
party ticket, and tho influence" he can exert
in securing such voJes. The Departments at
the National Capital IRE crowded with super
numerary clerks, appointed deposition screated
for them. as a reward for service to the party.
Six hours day is the limit of their capacity
for the arduous labors which they are paid
from $500 to $4,000 to perform. 1t is time
that q change should be instituted in this re-
gard. We should demand a reduction of ex-
penses, either by increasing the hours of la
Dor or by reducing the pay. or both. We
should demand, too, that all pay and emolu-
ments in the public service should be a
specific amount, eliminating the vicious sys-
tenn of perquisite fees. We should demands q
reduction OF expenditures upon public build
ings. There is no necessity for such palatial
of the principal cities for the proper conduct
of the public business. We are heavily in
debt. The people are overburdened with
| taxes. We cannot afford such extravaganza
But it is not our poverty which chiefly prompts
the reform. These buildings are always
built by contract-fat contracts. There is
jobbery and fsvoritism in all of them, and
the Generalization resulting is far more
Objectionable than tho expenditure of the
money.
might go on and particularize furtt or, but
it Is not necessary. You ell understand AZ
well as / that there is need for reform
throughout the entire governmental system.
1t needs thorough remodeling. 1t must be
purified. This is the work for which the peo-
pie are organizing.
And here have word to say about lead
ers. The party papers and stump-orators are
anxiously inquiring where are the leaders of
this farmers movement. They want some
body that is tangible brought forward,
| toward whom they can level their weapons.
They dare not do it toward the people in the
aggregate, because that would lose them
votes. Now, if l understand the nature of
this movement. it is, as previously intimated,
the assertion of individuality on the part of
the people. They have had enough of blind
ly following party leaders.
They are now proposing to lead themselves,
to dictate how their officers shall conduct
themselves in the performance Of their as
signed duties. The progress they are making
in this self leading is seen in the repeal Of the
Salary Grab law-with Presidential excep-
tion-and in the influence so directly and eff
fectively exerted upon Congressional and State
legislation. The power is so evident that the
demagogues are humbling themselves upon
their marrow-bones, pleading so earnestly for
little longer to serve the dear people.
A FIsAL APPEAL.
In conclusion, would appeal to all of you,
as good citizens, as honest, intelligent men,
to join in the great and important work be-
fore us Until it is accomplished we shall
have q babel of confusion, injuriously affect
ing our prosperity as individuals and as ma
ton. Our finances are now only disturbed by
the state of uncertainty at present existing.
Capital, which is sensitive, and yet which al
ways desires employment if it is assuredly safe,
is being boarded in the East and in Europe
where the surplus has accumulated. While
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