The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-02-27
PRINCIPLES ABOVE PERSONS.

It martyFuOm IOF the truths S3E
e among those who preached ahe
# the gospel of freedom.
e And verify martyrdom cam
b not SO much of the early adv,
q Gates of emancipation, not as IL
); wisest had predicted, but in q W.
: entirely unprecedented by tl
a friends of liberty, that consume
a its hundreds of thousands of vi;
: tins taken from the chosen of th
4 land. For the principles ayoucl
: ed by the Republican party me
: haye considered neither positio
5 nor life dear. 70 the extent thi
spirit has ,perVaded its adhereut
, it has been invincible. True
enough of the baser- sort hay
, mingled in its ranks. EnouSl
have sought Office and gain only
. But q conspicuous merit. Of t6
party has been its. power of, sell
renovation
> The .peopleshaTe recognized
this, sand rallied to it aStlfe polia
eaE i0Fganization- fofmedz fat q.
rtpuDnc welfare and determined Il
administer the responsibilities en-
trusted to it with efficiency ant
ability. If necessary to its parity
and its high mission of liberty
it could drop the most trusted ma
tional leaders and part company
with its cherished organs.
A party of principles, it was O.
the people and for the people and
by the people, and whenever 8
scheme or leader or an organ be
came too selfish for this broad
purpose, its vigorous life parted
with the perverted part as the tree
drops the dead leaf.
What party has a record of such
sacrifices and accomplishments
Union saved, slavery destroyed,
freedom universal, and not a trait
or hanged for his treason! There
are NO more thrilling pages in our
history. The Presidents elected
by this party recall the days of the
fathers-Lincoln, Grant; names to
be as dear to freedom and unborn
generation as Washington.
The Republican party has re-
elected each Of it's Presidents.
Many of those given office never
expected or sought it. The peo-
pie elected them or the appointed
power chose them on account OF
capacity, honesty, fitness. Many
have closed their term of office.
Some have refused further service.
New men have taken their places
many OF them of the highest char
acter. But the continuance of the
supremacy OF the party tempts
and attracts mere office-seekers.
They get hold of caucuses by
fraud-putting on the appearance
of honesty, they secure considera-
tion and position.
These dangers thickened around
the last Presidential election.
The Liberal movement, as much
as it relieved the Republican par
ty of dross and corruption, did
not altogether purify it from this
class Of men; some of them found
certain places among its manifold
activities, and were carried by the
tide of its success into positions
Of trust, while some are now look
ing for their reward, as they call
it. They are getting up long pc
titions for appointments, perhaps
buying or selling each others sup
posed influence or lists of indoors
ers. If they seek a place, no mat
ter how faithful and competent
the incumbent, they have the in
situations, or if these fail, the
false charges, with which they
hope to break him down. They
claim, perhaps, to have ''made"
their member of Congress, or urge
him to go into 8 new deal of the
Offices in their district on purely
personal grounds for the purpose
of "perpetuating his power"
This plan of operation might have
answered for the Democratic par
ty during those declining years
when its coherent power was in
spoils, not principles; but no
scheme could be more fatal to a
Republican leader. Let him look
carefully before he is thus en-
trapped. Let him remember that
the people, as a whole, care moth.
ing for the ms or outs, nothing
for continuance or for rotation in
themselves, but in the end will
only be satisfied with honest SER
vice; that they have elected an
honest President, and that he from
the first has sought to do their
honest will honestly, in making
appointments and administering
the laws. In a period when pecu
lations in private affairs fill the
press, and when charges against
public officers often have little ref
erence to truth, it is becoming
more and more manifest that a
vigorous honesty presides over
the administration of our national
affairs. No known case of NAL.
feasance in Office has been allow
ed to pass UNPUBLISHED. Indeed
the vigor of scrutiny practiced
amid the indiscriminate charges
may sometimes uuduly press upo1
or injure faithful officers. Certain
it is that che discharge of duty
under this Administration is com
pairing more and more favorably
with the execution of private
trusts. This elevation of the pub
lie service is saying to the incom
petent and dishonest office seeker
beVGre; it is perilous for you Il
attempt to defraud the public now
Especially is it dangerous to bl
entangled in any scheme of plum
der through the appointments t.
, Office. This care with which pub
lie business is performed gives TIL,
Departments an accurate knowl
, edge of its officers in the differen
sections of the country. Suppose
/ q party leaders first business will
} the Department is to recommend
the displacement of an officer who
. through all the bureaus will
which he has to do, is distinguish
ed for his efficiency and fidelity
suppose it is clear by these ofticia
records that whatever of unpopu
larity he may have obtained is en-
7 tirely due to these causes, is it no
I sure to become apparent to tn
; Administration at once that he i
) putting persons above principles
2 his own preferences above the IN
: terests of the people; and is it no
: sure to set its officers to guar
against unnecessary changes
There is verify need that recon-
mendations should be intelllgen
! and honest as well as voters
Selfish schemes, moreover, are tn
; rocks on which the party is mos
4 likely to he wrecked So lono a