Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-05-25
..ress Of the Liberals to the People
of the United States.

fxqF
tore innSiy agitated by apprehensions of dangers
Proi. srcr1 the prevalence of corrupt tendencies
nsac.ices in our political life, and never has
sno phaen greater reason for it. We will not dis
tneIeb in detail the distressing catalogue of
pia!,osures which for several years have followed
1ranofher in rapid succession, and seem to have
OF. sesrcely a single sphere of our political life
lsi.onrhed The records Of courts, OF State Leg
ph1tnres and of the National Congress speak with
issble plainness, and still they adding 10 the
slsssndalous exhibition
,nrs is most deplorable. and peculiarly so at this
me when are about to celebrate the
Lsardreth anniversary Of our National existence,
IVA have invited the nations of the earth 10 visit
~ land. and to witness the evidence of our ma
Ia progress. as wei as the working and effects
Jthat Republican Government which century
~ nr fathers founded
THE Centennial anniversary of the Declaration
independence, being in 20 many respects to all
1sericans day OF sfneerest pride and rejoicing,
.ieIt 10 be in other respects not without selfre-
.oarh and humiliation. OF this the corruption
a.yealed in our political life 70 the cause
TO the honor of the American people be II
sa;d every patriotic citizen feels the burning
name Of the spectacle presented in the Centen-
nal year-there the mementoes and monuments
N the virtues OF the past and here the shocking
syidences OF the decentralization and corruption
az the present; there the glowing eulogies pro-
uoupced on the wisdom and purity Of the fathers,
and here, in hooking contrast, the verdicts of
courts and records Of Legislative bodies, illustrat
inc the political morals OF day, and this before
all
the exhibition and guest to the feast. Never
VS. there cause for keener modification, and
seeniy does it strike every patriotic heart"
The question is then asked, :" How can we
avert such dangers ana wipe off such stain: BY
nyoying (says the address) that, although the
Eoyernment machinery has become corrupt, the
Great body of the people are sound and strong at
The core, and that they are honestly determined
10 reform the abuses OF our political life, and to
overthrow at any cost the agencies of evil that
stand in the way.
az the questions involved in the impending Ma
tional election, the address says:
..Graye as they are still, in our present situs-
,;on we must, as American citizens. recognize it
AZ our most pressing duty, to re-es tabsh the
moral character OF our Government. and TO ele.
waite the tone OF our political life Our
discussions and struggles about other great ques-
tons and principles Will appear like a mockery
and farce II we permit our public concerns to
drift into that ruinous anarchy which corruption
mas. necessarily bring in its train because it de-
sfroys the confidence OF people in their self-goy-
eminent, the greatest calamity that can befall
republic. It's simple question of life or death
corrupt monarchy may last by the rule OF force;
corrupt republic cannot endure. 1t il useless
10 console ourselves with the idea that the cor
ruption among us must be ascribed solely 10 the
immediate effects of the Civil War, and will,
without an effort at reform, soon pass away.
There is another cause which is not transitory,
bpt threatens to become permanent. IL is the
system which has made the offices Of the Govern
ment the mere sport Of party victory; the system
sponsbliTy as the reward of party service and
ne bounty Of favoritism; the systeo which APP
meals to the mean impulses of selhshness and
creed as a controlling motive of political action
The system which degrades the civil service TO the
level of mere party agency, and treating the
officer as the hired servant OF the party, and tax
ing him for party support, stimulates corruption,
and places il under party protection; the system
which brings the organization Of the parties I'M
der the control of the most selfshly-nterested,
and therefore most active, element-the place
holders and the place hunters-ihus tending TO or
ganize standing army OF political mercenaries,
10 be paid out of the Treasury of the Govern
ment who, by organized action, endeavor 10
snbjugate the will of the people to their ends,
through the cultivation OF tyrannical party
spirit.
!" Every student of our political history knows
that since the spoils system was inaugurated cor
ruptiOn has steadily grown from year TO year, and
so long as this system lasts, with all its seduc
tons and demoraizing Tenderness, corruption
will continue 10 grow in extent and power, for
patriotism ana true merit will more and more be
crowded out Of political life by INSCRIPTIONS self
ishness
Tine war has only given sudden stimulus to
this tendency, but without the war il would have
grown up, and will not cease to grow as long as
The hotbed of corruption the spoils system, lasts
The skill in corrupt practices acquired by one
generation OF spollsmeA Will only be improved
upon by the next. The result we know. We have
already Teaped so great harvest of disaster and
shame that, we repeat, IL has now become the
first duty of the American people TO re-establish
ough reform.
ing National election! In this respect, fellow
citizens, we consider 1t our duty TO speak very
pIaiply Never were the cause OF good Govern
meDt and the honor of the American name more
Immediately dependent on the Character, ability
and reputation of the men TO be selected Tor the
highest offices. In view OF the grave circum-
stances at present surrounding ne, we declare
that the country cannot now afford 10 have any
man elected TO the Presidency whose very name
,Ar.,a -
promising determination Of the American people
10 make this pure Government once more. our
duty in this respect is plain and imperative. The
worn out clap Trap OF Iair promises ~ party plat
forms will not satisfy it, neither will these fine
professions ON the part of candidates. Not mere
words are needed, but acts; not mere platforms,
but men: and we therefore declare and call upon
all good citizens to join US, that at the coming
Presidential election we shall support no candI-
date who. in public position, ever countenanced
corrupt practices or combinations, impeded their
exposure or punishment or opposed necessary
measures of reform. We shall support no candi-
date who while possessing Official influence and
power, has failed to use his opportunities In ex-
posing and correcting abuses coming within the
reach OF his observation, but for personal and
party ends has permitted them 10 tester OH; for
such men may be counted on not TO uncover and
crush corruption, but for the party sake merely
TO conceal IL more,
we shall suppori no candidate, however con-
spicuous his position or brilliant his ability, in
whom the impulses of the party managers have
shown themselves predominant over those OF the
reformer, for he viii be inclined to contn ne that
fundamental abuse--thc employment OF the GOV
eminent service az machinery Tor personal or
party ends. We shall support no candidate who,
however favorably judged by his nearest friends,
IL not publicly known 10 possess those qualities
Of mind and character which the stern TASK OF
genuine reform requires, for the American people
cannot now afford TO FISK the future OF the he
public in experiments on merely supposed virtue
or rumored ability, 10 be trusted on the strength
OF private recommendation.
In one word, at present, no candidate should
be held entitled to the support OF patriotic cltl-
zens Of whom the question may be larry asked:
IL he really the man to carry through thor
ongh-going reform of the Government: Can ne
with certainty be depended upon to possess tn ;
with abuses which have acquired the strength
81 established custom, and 10 ms end
FIRMLY resist the pressure, even OF his party
hiendsr Whenever there l. room for such ques-
tion and doubt a. to the answer, the candioate
should be considered unit for the emergency
This Ii no time for so-caed availability sprlnR-
ing rom distinction gained on helas OF actoh
foreign to the duties of Government nor Tor mat
lar more dangerous sort or ayailibllty Whlch
consists IN this-that the candidate be nelfher
30 bad ~ TO repel good citizens, nor so good o.
10 discourage the bad ones, Passive virtue I'D
the highest place has TOO often been known 10
prevent the growth OF active vice below. The
man to be intrusted with the Presidency TINS
year must have deserved not only the confidence
OF honest men. but also the fear ana haueo
OF the thieves. He who manages 70 conciiate
the lhieyes cannot be the candidate. Every
american citizen, who has the future OF the
republic and the National honor sincerely AZ
heart, should solemDly resolve that the country