The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1876-06-22
WHAT WE WANT.

What we need most of all is not chief
ly a positive political Lolicy in a party
i but radical reformation as to the class
ref men elected to public Office In fed
eral affairs We have drifted far away
from the simplicity and economy of old
tins republican rule. The National
Administration is conducted on the
most sxtravagant and corrupting scale
tits directly demoralizing. Not only
has it polluted the fountains of official
integrity, but it has stabbed public virtue
and private morals at vital point The
very atmosphere of society is filled with
the efiuvia of a deadly contagion emanat-
ing from the cess pools of federal cor
ruption. The Republican party is at
present realizing the bitterness of
just but terrible political immolation
This is not so much the result of the in.
:, Aate rottenness of its platform of prinei-
pies as of thu base character of the men
Bho:have wormed themselves into official
position.
r. Now that the Democratic party is pre-
pairing to supplant the Republic an in
Federal management, it Is the dictate of
wise generalship to see at the outset
that only true and incorruptible men be
chosen to represent the party in ell its
elections, whether county, state, or
fedeI al. Let intelligence and respecta-
bility come to the front. and bid incom-
potency and doubtful character take a
hal " h
ship of native or foreign citizenship, nor
the intermeddling of ambitious deuomi-
nationalism. The aim of the Democrat
10 party is to deliver the country out of
the clstches of misrule and from deep
seated corruption, and introduce at
Washington and throughout the States
the benefcence of good government.
But this great work cannot be effected
unless Democratic Of6ce-holders be bet
ter and purer than the Republican.
Availability is not the true test of Off
-,eial fitness; but ability, integrity
and manly frmness are the chief
requisites. In these days of politi-
cal huckstering, it is too often the case
that an independent, cultivated man,
who will not stoop to the petty tricks of
.court-green canvassing is elbowed out of
the arena, and his commanding talents
an eminent fitness are at discount in
the estimation of those who so boldly
manipulate election matters. Let this
policy obtain in the management of Dem
Ocratic party affairs and our fate will
surely be that ofthe Republican party: a
by~word of reproach throughout the
land. To guard against this tendency,
let our best citizens cease to stay away
from district and county conventions and
thus show that they are determined that
emily good and true men shall be elevated
TO positions of public trust. By absent
ing themselves they virtually surrender
the reins of government into the hands
of imbeciles and purchasabls men. II
the people are not watchful of their inter
ests through conventions and the ballot
box GO rrupt practices will fasten them
selves upon the party and imperi its
existence.
Throughout the country, at this time
the air is filed with the din and chatter
usually attending modern scramblinl
over Office. Candidates are busy com
missioning cheap-pay political bummers
that they may scout and scour every
precinct in counties and cities, il
the interest of themselves and a Ger
tain ticket That vast army of respect
able Squires and ubiquitous Colonies ART
also buttonholed and pinned to the sup
port of certain men, These election
practices must be kept within bounds o.
they will fruit in untold evil Yes, al
these mnst be carefully watched, or mel
will be elected whose base deeds vii
blacken our party name. The country
is tired of schsming selfshness among
the ofice-hOlding class. 1t is too com
mon to consider the oath of Office in tn
light of formal introduction to cushion
ed ease and an invitation to attach pilFer
ing drain-pipes to the public exehequer
Mania for Office has already reached tn
danger-line, and the Democracy should
see that its political machinery is no
prostituted TO selfish ends by designing
men. Don't rely on whiskey and green
backs. They are bad lieutensnts.