Litchfield enquirer., 1874-04-02
Is it Reform '

Is n R0f0rms
 Our readers of different political faith from onrs will bear us witness that the LitchEeld Enquirer has no: been con- ducted, in the present campaign at least, in any spirit of partisanship. We fully recognize the fact that about the only po- litieal issue of immediate importance is the issue of Reform. Were it evident to us that the advent of the Democratic par ty to power would reform the evils under which we are at present laboring. we should favor rather than oppose such a change. As regards Connecticut, we are not aware that any reform we desire would be forwarded by the choice of Demo- cratic legislature. Both parties are com mitted So far as platforms can commit them to Constitutional Reform. We doubt whether these promises will be any better kept in the future than in the past. Neither party is willing to wrestle with the great railroad corporations who now defy legislative control. Least of all is the Democratic party the one to grapple with this great question. One of their prominent candidates for the U. s. Sena- tOrship, Mir W. H. Barnum, a railroad magnate, will no doubt receive ma- iority of the representative votes of this county. In spite, too, of the queer re- serve of our Democratic papers and the assertions of the New York Tribune, there is no doubt that the Democracy will mod fly our registry law if they get the power to do so, and the frankly expressed views of Mir. Eaton and other leaders of the par ty show that it's modification at their hands means its destruction.
 As regards National politics we fail to see what reform tho success of the Dem- ocratic party as now organized would bring. Does any one imagine that the offices would be any the less the spells of victory under Democratic than under Republican Administration? Have the Democrats in Congress shown any unwil- lingness 10 take Credit Mobllier dividends or back-pHy, or to vote imitation? They voted solid against the bill regulating railway charges, yet the New York World claims that they are the natural allies of the Changers
 What the Democracy rely on for sue. cess in the coming election is "disaffec- ton" in the Republican ranks. Undoubt- edly We are disafected. We do not like the Jayne business and the Sanborn bu- siness and the Simmons business; but then official abuses and moiety systems are of older date than Kepublicanism. When Andrew Jackson made clean sweep of the federal officials on his accession to the presidency he established precedent that has led to it's legitimate result in the demOralization of our civil service. We cOncede that Gen. Grants efforts at civil service reform have been in the main a failure. Something, indeed, he has &C., cOmplished, but Buffers success in the opposite direction has, unfortunately, been vastly greater. Any real civil ser vice reform must be wrought out by the people and the executive against Congress, and Gen. Grant is not the man to fight Congress on that issne. Where is the prominent Democratic politician who would do better? 4 twelve years fast has So sharpened the lappetite of the Democratic partisan that We doubt wheth- CT any system of civil service reform soald be devised that would survive his sdvent to power.
 Is the candidacy of Mr. Wm. H, Bar num for the Senate in the interest of Re. fOrm2 Does Connecticut actually yearn for its Cameron, its Caldwell, it's Pome. Tcye What else would the election of Ar. Barnun mean? We do not deny that he is an able business man. He could not otherwise manage one or two rail. roads. several large iron manufactures, ard spend also an occasional week in Congress What we object to in MT. Bezn1m is that he is 8 corrupter of poli. tacs and of the people. In England they have become used to such things. Rcf sasa bay their seats in the House of Com E2ons and custom sanctions the abuse Are the people of Connecticut ready tt see the highest office within their gif sold to rsch man for . price9 The ca reeR of ME. Banum has been one of shame les corruption from the start. He was 1Ozl7zted for Congress because of his money and of his influence over voters in hls employment. In spite of the fact that be was grossly negligent of his congres. slO1ai daties he has been renominated re- Pe@sedly because of the money there wa. m hins till, at last, even his own parti s@as have siekened of the business. ant =s She elecuOn of 1873 he ran 270 vote behind their candidate for governor. Ant these ire the tactics of the coming ma, Of the party of reformr
 Were our next Senator to be chosen b, the people we do rot believe Mir. Bar Ean could by eny possibility be elected tke naa Is too we'll knoEn-but the senate rsl succession is to be matter of arrange 7ent in legislative cancus, and the effor Ae is nOw.making shows how confident h. Es of saeces& In this county the brunt ef the eontest. .next Monday, will come or sAe kepnhlicans of Norfolk, Colebrook WEnchesser. TcrringtOn. Woodbury, Wash Angtna and Warren. land we hope the, wln not forget thnt every representatiy, Shey l0se by local divisions, by disaffec ten. or bY supineness, will in all proba hiliky give plaes to a.supporter of Ms 1 H- Blrnam.