Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-10-30
The Promised Reform.

Since Democracy lost the control of
the Government it has been clamoring
for Reform. The most satisfactory Adj
ministration the nation ever had fails to
satisfy it. Everything in the shape of
governmental affairs needs reformation,
and every time Democracy is the only
party pure enough to bring it about.
The thief, when pursued by the officers
of the law, will oftcntimes direct public
attention from his own efforts to escape
by crying at the top of his voice: Stop,
thief! stop, thiefw SO Democracy, driven
from its fields of plunder and closely
pursued by the moral sentiment of the
country, cndeavOrs to divert the right
eOus punishment which is being inflicted
upon it to an innocent party by crying
out Reform! reform! we must have re-
formw
1t has deceived few people and been
successful in some sections. Texas fell
IA victim to its seductive clamor, and to-
day is paying dearly for Democratic re-
form. Its excellent school system has
been reformed out of existence, and its
children, both white and black, will
grow up in ignorance unless true reform
alton is brought about in Democratic
policy, or by the return to pow of the
Republican party. Its Supreme Court,
composed of good men with loyal SEN
timents, has been so reformed that
none of its loyal material is left, and in
its place we find the old State Judges
under Confederate rule. The same re-
form has been practiced in every Office
under State control, so that at the pres
ent time a loyal man, in the true sense OF
the term, is about as hard to find holding
local office in Texas as a ray of sun
shine in the midst of night. Instead of
offices being reduced in numbers they
have been multiplied, and the reform
that was to save money to the State will
cost it at least third more than the adj
ministration which it supplanted. The
elective franchise has been so purified
by the Texas party of reform that but
few Republicans in the rural districts
dare appear at the polls, and reform pro-
scription has been so thoroughly prac
ticed that In a few years Republican
voter in Texas will be us rare Il curiosity
as an abolitionist was in South Carolina
before the war. A like reform has taken
possession of Georgia, North Carolina
| Virginia and other Southern States
Bad as some of the carpet-bag govern
ments were thought to be the substitu
ton in their place of Democratic reform
has made matters worse, and we are
not surprised that the better class OF
Democrats who were led to believe in
the promised reforms have already re
voltcd against them, and to-day are cry
ing for deliverance from their friends
The broken promises of Democracy in
Virginia are we'll set forth in the Parkers
burg State Journal, an ably-conductet
paper in that State. The article is en-
| titled Democratic Promises Violated,
and is so truthful picture of like viola
tions in every State where Democracy
has gained power that we reproduce i
here; 1--WE were promised" says thu
Journal,
"That the convention and Legislation
growing out of it would cost but $4,000
they have already cost over $lSO,OOO
THAT the sessions of the Legislature
should be biennial-they have been 81
far semi-annual.
That there should be greater econom,
in the administration of State affairs
the cost in every department of the pub
| lie State service has largely increased.
THAT Legislature should be chosel
that would guard the State Treasury
the most notable act of that body was u
appropriate $4,000 of the people
uOucl LUZ H. NhA lstihdo SltNS'a
"That party would punish every dis
honest public officer-it has shielded
peculator, convicted by committee o
his own selection, of overcharges to tn
amount of thousands of dollars.
"That it would give us a Constitution
shorter, better and palmer than the oil
one--it has given us one that is twice a
long as the old one, and so complicate
that neither the public nor the maker
of the instrument can understand it.
"That it would diminish the numbe
of officers-it has largely increase
them.
"That it would diminish the nunbC
of Judges--it has multiplied the numbe
"That it would diminish the number I
members for the Legislature-it has Il
creased them.
"That il would give us cheaper coul
ty Organization--it has given US mol
expensive one.
, "That it would lower the salaries {
J public officers-it has in every case II
, creased them.
, at promised the people local COVER
, ment--it destroyed nearly all We ev'
) had and gave the resurrected Coun
S Court system in its stead.