The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-11-02

ants. We demand that all custom house
taxation shall be only for revenue. Re
form is necessary in the scale OF public
unconstitutional, State and mdni-
cipal. Our Federal taxation has swol-
len from So, 100000 in gold in 1860 to
$3.50, 100000 in currency in 1870. Our
aggregate taxation from 1854 ,000, 900
in gold in 1850 to $73O,OOO,OOO in cur
rency 10 1870. Or in one decade,
from less than IS per head, to more
than $l8 per head. Since the peace
the people haVo paid to their tax gatho
erers more than thrice the aum of the
national debt, and more than twice
that sum for the + ederal government
alone.
We demand vigorous frugaIity in
every department. and from every or
ficer Of tho government. Reform is
necessary to put a stop to the profit
gate waste of public lands, and their
diversion from actual settlers by the
party in power, which has squandered
$500, ,000,00 Uf acres upon railroads
alone, and, out Of more than thrice
that aggregate, has disposed of less
than sixth directly to tillers Of the
soil. Reform is necessary TO correct
the omissions of the Ropu olican Con-
| gross and tho errors OF our treaties and
our diplomacy which have stripped
our follow citizens of foreign birth and
kindred race recrossing the Atlantic
Of the shield of American citizenship,
and have exposed our brethren Of the
Pacific coast to the incursion of u race
not sprung from the same great par-
ent stock, and, in fact, now by law
denied citizenship through naturali>
zation, as boing neither accustomed to
the traditions of a progressive civili-
zation nor exercised in liberty under
equal laws. We denounce the policy
which thus discards the liberty low
ing German and tolerates the revival
of the cooie trade in Mongolan wo-
men, imported for immoral purposes,
and Mongolian mon hired to perform
servile labor contracts, and demand
such n modification Of the treaty with
the Chinese Empire, or such legisla-
ton by Cong'e ess within constitu-
tional limitation rs shall prov cnt the
further importation Of immigration of
the Mongoian race. Reform is ne
ccssary and can never be effected but
by making it tho controlling issue OF
the elections, lifting it above the two
false issues with which the Office hold.
ing class and the party in power seek
to smother it. The false issue with
which they would cnkindlc scctarian n
strife N respect TO the public schools,
of which the establishment to support
belonging exclusively to tho several
States, and which the Democratic
party has cherished from their tound>
alton and resolved to maintain with
out partialty or preference for any
class, sect or creed, and without con-
tributing from the treasury to any
the talso issue by which they scck~4col
ligh,. anew tho dying embors Of Sec
tional hate between kindre! peoples,
once NATURALLY estrauged, but now
reunited in one indivisible republic
and common destiny. Reform is
necessary in the civil service. Expc>
rience proves that efficient, cconomi-
cal conduct of tho governmental busiS
ness is not possible if its civil service
be subject TO change at every election,
be q prize fought for at the ballot box,
be half reward Of party zeal instead
OF posts of honor, assigned tor proved
competency and held for fidelity it,
the public employ. That the dispens,
ing of patronage should neither be IL
tax upon tho time OF all our public
men, nor the instrument of their am
bition. Here again professions fulsi-
fled in the performance, attest that
the party in power can work out no
practical or salutory reform. Reform
is necessary even more in the higher
grades of public service. The PRESS
dent, Vice President, Judges, Sena>
tors, representatives and Cabinet OF
6cers. These, and all others in au-
thority, are the peoples servants;
their officers are not private perqui-
sites; they are public trusts. Wher
the annals of this republic show the
disgrace and censure of Vice Pre-
sident, Il late Speaker of the House OF
Representatives marketing his ruling
rs presiding officer; three Senators
profiting secretly by their votes as law
makers; five cLairmen OF loading com
mittees Of tho late House OF Repre-
sentatives exposed in j0bbing; IL late
Secretary OF the Treasury forcing bal
ances IN the public accounts; a lac
Attorney General misappropl iating
public funds; u Secretary OF tho Navy
enriched or enriching friends by per-
certals levied off the profits of con-
tractors with his department; an am
L IL .