The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-08
A CRAVE PROBLEM.

We find ourselves confronted ut the be-
g,nulng ultnc second century Of our po-
.J.,al existence with problems rs grave
- those which faced our ta,r.-5 at the
..ttsrt Of our government. Ha We their
wisdom, PATRIOTISM and virtue This is
q -,rcsL crisis in our public sttaiIs. Upon
the cyniUc. Of our people the world will
decide with regard TO tho character Of
American citizens and American patri-
".i-m.
Tho events Of this day will be rocitcd
through tine centuries We are making u
napier in history which Will teach either
.slaI or evil 90 those who will come after
u.. 1t we have the patriotism to rise
above party interests and passions, and
T. do VIVA. honesty demands, we shall
lit our people TO higher point in the
eyes Of the world and in our own regard
than We have ever yet reached.
If We fail, when the lessons of this
centennial year should teach us virtue;
when the varied interest of labor, of arts,
OF commerce and of capital all urge us
To a line of conduct which will inspire
the world with confidence and ourselves
with the highest sentiments of honor,
then our failure Will be a long step to-
ward national decay and degradation.
THE oFFICE-HoLDERs CAMPAIGN.
There is $ darker phase of the last
election. The administration sent out Il
Cabinet officer to take charge of the
canvass on hehalfof the Republican party.
Ills very position vt the head of Its man
4
up,n nearly 100000 Official dependents.
IL proclaimed to them in louder tones
Imam words, "Yon must work.
You must vote. You must pay
10 all the election of
candidate who declares himself in
favor Of civil service reform" 1t told
te,n that if, believing and acting upon
bis assurance, they followed they follow
rH their own convictions and voted for
ais opponents, ;hcy would be punished
by the los, OF their positions. They were
forced in thousands of cases to submit to
cvtorlion with smiling faces. but with
heavy hearts. II like intimidation hsd
been used in 81 Southern State It would
have been seized upon by the admins
t~ation rs a reason tor declaring martial
law. tor urreSting and imprlsOuing every
susnrctod citizen. 1t is due to the best
class ui the leaders and Journals Of the
Republican party to say that they pro-
tested against this indcc4ncy. But sucn
acts did not stop with mere improprie
ties. They rip"ned into " violation of
tie spirit of the law. In its resolu-
lions, journals, and in lis speeches:
that party has declared its detes-
,,tion Of such abuses and It's purposes
,Y reform them. At the last session of
Congress il made it n crime, punishable
with Imprisonment and deprivation of
clico, to levy assessments upon office
holders for political purposes. 1t limited
the punishment to one class OF officials,
because, under the constitution. those
holding the positions by the appointment
of the President and Senate could not
cons.itutionslly be removed from their
offices by such enactment. But 1t Is
higher moral offence in higher officials,
punishable by the more impressive pro-
cess Of impeachment. Here no technical
difficulties can hinder the punishment OF
this crime againsS political morals or
public welfare No one doubts or denies
that such assessments were made with the
knowledge and consent of the commun-
Ity.
THE GRAVITY OF THIS OFFENCE
is made more gross by the fact that at the
last session of Congress, when it was pro-
posed to reduce the pay Of officials. in
order to relieve the industry of the
country from the burden of taxation. it