The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-05-12
and from that moment they became aggressive
seeking personal advancement

RE0ARDLESS OF IhE fObLhC 0OODs
Notcontent with what had been given they
greediIy asked for more, and could a0ord tooffer
Inducements which secured almost TO the full
extent of The asking. To secure the favor of the
official representatives Of the people toward any
new enterprise was equivalent, and is yet In
many localities, to obtaining to the full limit Of
their demands. 1t was only natural that they
shOald SO extend those limits that an amount
wes provided sufficient to secure the favor which
was 50 potent. such offices, under these circum-
stances, a tempting prize. IL mattered
little what the ordinary salary and emoluments
II the office might be. By proper management
Il was possible 10 make the perquisitss the chief
ipducement. office seeking. which, under
the ordinary rules of etiquette would be
grew into general favor, and has be.
system. Party management has been con-
strained to recognize IL and to conform 70 its re-
Quirements. In fact Ii Is now the chief element
In party organization and the people have
become accustomed to rate the offices In imPor-
tance, not according TO the stipulated salaries,
but to the amount which may be realized oy
"good management" or rom the opportunities
for honorable stealing. Since 1884, and especially
during the years of the rebellion, the opportu-
mites for plur der and the forced forbearance of
the people in the presence of threatened disaster
contributed to end hssten ed the Generalization
which had previously commenced.
have glanced thus hastily at the remote
causes which have led 10 the present lamen table
condition of our political system, viruleDt
poison has permeated every artery and vein and
the life of the nation is in imminent danger. IL
diseased
which has compelled the attention ofthe people.
IL Is this which accounts for the wide spread ,un
iyersal interest which has inangurated ana ma
damning effects 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 benehciaries of the stealings-I can use no
more appropriate word-sgree among them,
selves there is nothing said, but as runs the old
saw, "when thieves fall out, etc" Recently the
thieves have been falling out so constantly and
fhGtr Rh0ru and or Tyn
thoroughly circulated by the press, that the peo-
pie have become alarmed, as well they may.
thought must admit the truth Of every position
have thus far advanced.
III this be so, Is IL not evident that any reform
measures to be effective must be directed TO cor
recting the primary sources of the evil. There
must be a radically thorough change of policy,
in regard to joint undertakings between the
public, as represented in legislative bodies and
private corporations. IL the rule be made abso-
shall be granted by national, state, county or
municipal authority, in money, land or special
privileges starting point WILL certainly o De
strauon that building lines Of railway
through agricultural or mining districts will
country, IL there be reasonable intelligence in
the management, handsome prodt upon the
atn n1pef f iTr Ssmonsrated top
that there are landowners and capitalists In
every district where a railroad may properly be
built, who derive large pront oy sncn Dulld.
ing. Let them pay the cost and they will be apt
so look well 10 economy In the expenditu re
OF their subscriptions.
HAVE USED RAILWAY BUILDINGS
as familiar illustration OF the sys'
team under which all of the public en-
terprises have been conducted. But il
runs through all our public service. In the cree
ton o public buildings 1t has been sought TO
spend as much money possible in a structure
OF given size. The building material on the spot,
which serves every necessity of private enter
pTig is not good enough and substitute must be
and the Western cities. The pay of the govern
ment laborers is generally above current rates,
e ls 6e CHIEF per
government emplOye is disposition to vote
the dominant party ticket, and the "infuence"
fnn at the ares
with supernumerary clerks appointed TO posi-
tons created for them, as reward for service TO
/ the party Six hours a day is the limit of their
capacity for the arduous iabors which they are
that change should be instituted In this regard
We should n;i, demand I'M d. sire REDUCTION ,S 100, OF
OF labor or by reducing the pay,
or both. We should demand; too that all
pay and emoluments in the public serv &c
vicious system of perquisite fees. We should
demand reduction OF expenditures upon pub
/ lie buildings. There is no necessity for such
palatial buildings now being constructed
IN all of the principal cities for the proper con-
duet of the public business. We are heavily in
| We cannot afford such extravagance. But 1t il
not our poverty which chiefly Prompts the re-
tract-fat contracts. There is jObbery and favor.
itism in all of them, and the decentralization re-
sulting is far more Objectionable than the ex
might go on and particularize farther, but 1t
is not necessary. You all understand az wei a.
the entire goVernmentaI system. 1t NEEDS |.
thorough remOdeling IL must be purified. This
Is the work for which the people are organizing.
Now how is 1T TO be accom- Plished? We certain
ly do not desire to oyerturn existing systems by
revolution: but fire other measure will suffi ce,
that will certainly be resorIed to. The signs OF
some OF our foremost men appaI eutly Intent
upon arousing sectional prejudice during the
discussion OF the finance question. We have
seen Influential papers induging in the most
infamatory expressions, threatening war. We
| have seen the same apparent intensity of feeling
mani 'ested which preceded the late civil war.
! We have seen the preiudices and passions of one
class melted against others by the heartles dem
agogues who would hesitate at nothing TO accom-
pIish their selfish purposes. All c. ~. ms, 100, in
| reference to a question about which all sensible
| men would practically agree if they would can
didl and temperateiy discuss the subject in all
5 bearings. We are constantly noting the
efforts OF partisan papers and leaders o encour'
age antagonism between
CAPITAL AND LAB1R.
There is no conflict between them. Each is nee
essary to the other; capital renders labor more
remunerative, and vice versa. They are indeed
1 4NOb tLdt tllcy dlWdyS dSIct III uc
tails any more than do some men and their
wives. But because there are exceptional disa
greements among hot tempered people W,
would not consider it necessary to set the who'll
/ human family by the ears. let US
some Judgment In our action upon thes'
| important questions. We may not Away
be correct in our opinions. We form them ,ou
such information as we receive and IL ma,
not present both sides OF question fairly. w
need not, we must not be intolerant.
| The work before US is an important one-pre
eminently important. IL we would preserv
the integrity Of our government, and by tn
government, / mean the self imposed restrain
upon license which is necessary to protect tn
people, the weak as well as the strong, the poo
as well as the wealthy, the man and the wo
man of The West, of the South, of the East an,
of the North, giving to each equality befor
the law, we must act promptly, vigorously AM
above all, wisely.
The work before us is a cooperative work
Every good citizen has part to perform, a par
which he cannot snirk wlthOue HSsumin
fearful responsibility. Ii shou'd be indi
vidual service of an entire Peep concentrate
upon a single purpose. That purpssse may b
expressed in % btiSh a