The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-11-12
THE COLUMBIAN, VOL. TX, NO. 30
COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT, vol. XL, NO 30
these funds. Why docs he not account for

these funds. Why does he not account for
it?
Instances of fragrant corruption and NAL
administration might be adduced almost
without number but those to which have
referred must suffice for the present time.
That the official corruption, reckless and
| prodgal expenditure of the public money
| have engendered both in officials and in the
masses of the people, habits ofextravagance
utterly incompatible with tue republican
| simplicity and economy of former times cam
not be doubted. And all these influences
combined with vicious financial system
and bad governmental policy generally.
have contributed to produce the "hard
times that rests with such oppressive weight
upon us. That we may remedy the derange-
ments under which we labor, we must cor
rect these evils. We must returnto the sim
plicity economy and integrity-public and
prlvate-of former times. There is, il seems
to me, no other avenue of escape for us.
How can reform, retrenchment, a return
to an honest and economical administration
of the government be effected? Certainly
not by continuing the present party in pow
er. The evils which have grown up under
their administration cannot be remedied bv
them. The reelection of Governor Hart
ranit, instead of being intepreted as pro-
'N'b t'tsttiiNl NliC GOiIuDllOH anu CNJfdNlU1npp
that has heretofore prevailed will be con-
strucd as complete vindicaton and en-
dorsement of the party in power.
That many Republicans know and doplore
the present state of things and earnestly de-
sire change for the better, is simply certain
but many of them cherish the deiusiye hone
that all this may be effected through the me-
dium of the Republican party. Such a hope
can never be realized. If the honest masses
OF that party could be heard there might be
more grounds for such a hope. But with
the famous treasury ring" with Simon
Cameron and w. q. Mann at their head n
deadly weight upon the party,it has no pow
er to make the needed reforms. How can
these men propose reform when to do so is
to plead guilty to all the charges in the in
dictment we prefer against them? And how
can the party effect reform while these men
rule the party with despotic sway? The cleo
ton of Hartrantt and Rawle will simply
mean an endorsement of that party for The
past, and lease Of power to rule and ruin
for the future,
On the other hand, the election of Persh-
ing and Piolet will be an energetic protest
against corruption and misrule, pledge of
reform, and harbinger of better times. The
Democratic candidates are pledged to reform
by their own weil-knowD principles, by the
platform on which they stand, and bv the
reformatory character Of those by whom they
are supported. Retrenchment and reform
are the watch words of the campaign. A
change is demanded--a thorough. radical
change. Nothing else will save our country
from evils of the most alarming character. |
Nothing else will save the government from
dishonor, or the people from general bank
ruptcy and ruin.
! feel, therefore, fully authorized to appeal
to all good men,-to all men who love their |
country, and desire her prospcrity-of all |
political partics,-tO vote for Pershing and
Piollet. Let the differences and conflicts of
the past be forgotten, in the noble and gem
erous effort to suppress venality, corruption
and misrule, and to reinaugurate economy,
honesty and political wisdom in the manage
ment Of our State affairs Let the dead past
bury her dead, while we devote, with vigi-
lance and energy, our full force and power,
to the work of reform. Despising the power
of rings" cabals and cliques, by which
we have been so long oppressed let the
voice of the people be pronounced in thun-
der tones, demanding refo:m-a return to an
economical and honest administration of the
government, and a restoration of prosperity
to our radly deranccd business interests.
Give Us again stable currency, with gold
and silver for It's basis; n wise honest and
economical administration Of public affairs,
domestic and federal and we may Justly hope
for return Of the good old times we form
erIy had under the judicious management of
democratic statesmen.