Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-18

Inc uttcupt h"uo '"'s s~'1
Grant and his Cabinet, to put Ben
Butler into the Gubernatoral chair OF
tho "blarney-stone" State, aroused
many Of tho journals and leaders Of
the "deccncy and morality" party, be-
cause of the "immoral tendency Of
our politics." as they then asserted.
This vain boasting is nevertheless
truo in practice. Our national politics
were never so dobauched as now, and
still becoming worse, because Butler
has triumphej, through the assistance
of "the government" over "decency,
morality" and all.
Harpcr's Weekly, Boston Advertiser,
and number Of the organs OF the
"decency and morality" party, have
called upon Grant to "unload" Butler,
Cameron, and at least three brother
in.laws, before the "loyal" cart breaks
down. Ben's victory in securing the
appointment of his man Friday (Sim-
mons,) Collector of the Port Of Bos-
ton, has brought those organs to the
surface again. The Weekly, in an
elaborate editorial, concludes as fol-
lows:
General Butler is, we say, tho representative Of
the immoral tendency of our politics. And II the
Administration, as seems TO bc new plainly evil
dent proposes to sustain him against the repre-
sentatlves OF political deccncy and morality, II
will ruin the party. The Republicans OF Massa-
chusetts will not accept General Butler as their
leader; and IL by sustaining him tho Administra-
ton pierccs the line Of the party In that State II
will be broken everywhere. Whether Mr.. Sim
mons be Collector at Boston or not Is compare
lively Of little importance; his nomination is the
serious .hing for IL shows that the Administra-
ton either does not the signs Of the times, or
does not care for them. We have no fear, indeed,
that this baser tendency in our politics will pre-
vail.
The public disgust and wrath with corruption
of every kind are quite as remarkable at this mo-
ment as the corruption itself. The country Is d-
viding into those who believe In political honesty
and who mean to secure II, and those who laugh
Il 10 scorn as impracticable sentmentality. What
sincere Republicans ask, and do not receive, is
some unmistakablc sign from Washington that
their Administration is with the former and not
with Che latter. They do not sec that sign in the
appointment Of Governor Shepherd, in the San
born contracts, In the nomination to the Boston
Collcctorshp, as they did not see II In the ap.
proval Of the "salary grab" in the retention Of
Mr.. Casey, in the tendency TO initiate the currency
and In the hesitation TO re,rench. That demand
however, will not be relaxed An attempt In the
White House to Jshnsonze the Republican party
failed, and an effort to Buterze II will be equally
useless.
Col. Forncy, Of the Philadelphia
Press, after quoting the foregoing, con
tinues in this manner:
Men in such q crisis as the present are nothing
save as indexes of sysVem. II Is not Genera
Butler nor Mr.. Simmons, nor Mr.. sanborn, MOI
Mr.. Casey, but the policy Of which they are th'
representatives. This policy is the burden tha
Is breaking the back Of the Republican party
The Credit Mobilier was the first blunder. because
II put the whole party on the defensive, and weak
ened public confidence in many Of the leaders 0
both sides. Then came the dangerous practice oil
making appointments only to please Congressmei
and Senators, in utter defiance Of the public will
Service not for the party but for politician, Hat
terry Of power, not competency for office, were th
road to Office. Experienced men were driven =
retirement by jobbers and spectators. Corrup
Legislatures in the States and dishonest loca
governments, illustrated by the sudden wealth 0
the worst characters, led to a final consolidatio
Of the ofiiceholders and their dependents agains
the great body of the people everywhere. IL
in vain to denouncc men as long as the system
allowed TO remain.
, Massachusetts, feels the burden and resolves
throw II of. Pcnnsylvania has borne II for year,
and every Independent Republican in the Stat
has protested against II but so far In vain Ihe'
is not Republican paper in Philadelphia fo-do
that has nof dcnounced Il. but the present powe
Of the combination Is greater than Il has eve
been never has the general danger been so immi
nent and yet as II to prove this statement, ncss
has the submission to this dcspotlsm been so con
plete. The chains are drawn so tight, and riyel
ed so close, that the victims are afraid to groai
and SO purchase relief by praises Of their oppres'
ors. President Grant does not hesitate to d.
uounce the reckless men who are bankrupting u
South. Senator Carpenter declares against q
wrstched administration OF louisiana, aud NJ
Dawes points to the decreasing revenues and in
oreasing debt Of the General Government. 1t
this system thar brushes the hearts Of the peopl
, Reader, these sayings are not utter
ed by Democrats or outsiders, bu
, friends within the camp who spea
: from personal knowledge and exper
ence, and their testimony can be rt
/ lied on, because it is moasurabl
| against themselves and isan additions
proof Of what is transpiring oil aroun
0 us. Yet, the people do not seem t
. realize the fact that the selfish, vena
: corrupt, and depraved to-day comman
J and control the whole National Coy
ernment machinery as cffectually
did the Southern masters their slave
| previous to the advent of that murder
cr and horse-thief, John Brown.
T.. H..