Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1876-03-24
THE DUTY OF THE DAY.

The New York Herald charges, and all
the facts support the truth Of the accu-
sation, that Grant entered into com.
pact with the administration majority of
the Senate to the effect that while the
Senators were to control the federal pat
ronage in their respective States. that all
the Presidents general appointments
were to be confirmed. There is no doubt
but this was the rule. Whether it was
established by tacit acquiescencs or actual
agreement IL matters not. That was the
arrangement which controlled all such
matters. The result is what we see, the
complete decentralization of every branch
OF the Government. From o Cabinet
minister to o custom house hanger-on
the same principle governs, and that is
helping themselves to the peoples
money. The very life. the honor and
good name Of the country is being suffo-
Gated by the pestilential atmosphere Of
the corruption, for which the Presi-
dent, the Cabinet and large majority
OF the national legislature are alone
responsible. Their matricidal hands
are lifted against the existence, the
honor and dignity Of their country.
They are like SO many highwaymen their
cry is "your money or your life." They
throttle the nation, while they dive deep
in her pockets for the treasure, to secure
which. they sold and will sell. their own
and the country's honor. OF course
there nre many marked exceptions to this
rule. There are numbers OF gentlemen
filing federal official positions who are
both honest and capable and who would
scorn o dishonorable or dishonest action.
either as citizens or officials. II is how
ever to be noted. that those men are not
promoted or given the fat places. They
cannot be used as tools and thus their
company is not desired by the ring men,
shoddy contractors and the stealing
crowd generally. This frightful con-
dition Of things is an acknowledged fact.
Cannot they be improved? Cannot
something be done. to reinstate
honor. honesty aid deoency, as the
controlling rules of the administration
Of public affairs. II is no use to talk about
putting this party in and that patty out.
That will not be Of the slightest benefit
unless total and sweeping change in
official ethics takes place. 1t will be no
comfort or gain to the people to replace
Republican thief with Democratic
rogue. There is nothing in that. There
II something in electing honest men to
places Of trust and power. Never mind
about their politics, but do mind about
their honesty and capability. The magic
power OF party shibboleths is gone.
Their spells have ceased to charm. There
are now only two parties in the nation
and the principles that separate them are
not political ones. They are the parties
Of the honest and the dishonest. The
party who are plundered and the party
OF plunderers. The latter march under
different colors and shout other slogans.
but that is their proper designation and
the real object they seek. Therefore in
the campaign now at hand let no blan-
dishments induce the people to support
any man who is tainted or even suspected.
The peoples officers. like Caesars wife.
should be above suspicion. The one
thing needful is honest officers. That
necessity overrides all other oonsidera-
tions- The duty Of the day is to let no
party affiliation induce any citizen to
vote for any candidate whose record does
not bear the severest scrutiny.