New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-12
MIR. WEEDS SOUTHERN CRITICS.
PARTIsANsHIP AND CORRUPTION.

PARTISANSHIP AND CORRUPTION
TWO OF THE GROWING EVILS OF THE POLITICAL
PERIOD.
TO the Edftor of The Tribune.
SIR: 1t was with interest that read THUR
low Weeds letter to vivus W. Smith published III HE
TRIBUNE OF Feb 90 The opinions Of one VINO heio in'
mate relations with great statesmen OF the happes
and most prosperous days OF our Republic must do hc
estinr TO all readers Those the days when stacs
men would rather be right than President ana "nen
they "woud prefer the evident interest OF the cou!
TO the pride Of consistency" The spirit OF Mr. "eeus
letter clearly indicates that he has mpioeu tue seh'
ments OF the patriots named by him In his letter. out ne
was many years partisan leader I'D oppos'on W
the Democratic party and AIN sorry to see that he now
eves OK presson TO some of his prcudices against It,
This no doubt he uuconsciousy II the late strus
gle for the maintenance Union had been e1t 10
the Republic party the result would nave oeen very
different The Union, the Constitution, ana opedehco
to the laws passed in pursuance thereo'' "e,o
the raliying principles Of the Democratic
party which for the time ignored party hno'
After the Southern armies surrendered and the war wa"
enaed came the reconstruction which was 10 Drihg
abont reconciliation and good feeling to the TWO
ing sections The people OF the south were 'ou W iS
down their arms free their slaves anu 10 seuu 'no
n-eson,atves 10 Congress The South did these three
things in good faith. Their reception and treatment
are familiar to ALL Unfortunately for them and for the
country the class of statesmen referred TO by Mr.
Weed had passed away, we should never have had
civil war The frenzy OF party excitement had brought
10 the surface another class OF men, some OF whom ut
tered the sentiment that Union without bloodshed
was nothing WORTH" men who never In their lives had
an idea above party and party drill. and with whom
country nothing Their idea of reconstruction was
that the South should be degraded.
There were two Of our past troubles. which
were under the surface and which after time culmi-
mated and brought about the disasters OF the past Is
years. Mr. Weed with his sagacity, might have noticed
them An alarm sounded by him would have been
needed. The first the doctrine introduced into
Federal politics from NewYork, THAT to the vicors
belonged spos" The interests and the welfare OF
the country were laid aside, and the contests between
the Sins" and the "ous" for the spoils became VIC
lent Then side issues false ssues caucuses plat
forms without meaning, which could be interpreted TO
mean thing in section and another In another
section The party whip is freely applied by worth
less and unprnciped demagogues who assume TO be the
leaders that who pure and who mean to do right
have the moral courage to throw off the collar which
has been placed their necks. The noisy leaders
gather in caucus and denouuce traitors oil who do
not fall into line There are many unfortunately whose
principles controlled DIV the sustenance question
solely. .
The other cause the Tariff 1t is true as Mr. Wee1
SAYS that there existed high and palmy condition
OF our country under the benign influences OF wise
protective tariff to 1885, when the Democracy
of the North, TO strengthen and perpetuate It's ponca
'judicous Tariff 1t is passing strange that person
OF Mr. Weeds experience in the management OF AFFAIRS
i'm Congress did not discern the difference between Ma
tioDal and individual prosperity. From the dis
cusson between those who advocate free trade,
q tariff for revenue and protective tariff have
originated evils which have developed sectional feeling,
aud least OF these evils Is system OF corruption
Tus system OF corruption originated with tariff meas.
ures passed after the cry raised for judcions"
in place of protective" tariff am IN favor OF free
trade and direct taxation being the only means by
which an honest and economical administration OF gov
eminent brought about The representatives VIII
then he directly responsible for the disbursement OF
money which will directly out OF the pockets OF
their constituents JOHN L. MohIoN'
Louisville, March 6, 1875.