Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-06-24
sbepberostown Register.
SATURDAY........JlINE "a, less.


and Politicians.
The reform movement is cry of an
guish from the fre-side against the po-
li,ical depravity of the age. Every
branch of the public service reeks with
corruption and the people, irrespective
of party, want reforn-,hey want to re-
establish the political morality OF our
ancestors.
Our professional politicians, those
who follow politics as trade, those
who seek the profits and not the hOnors
of official station, understand this in
tense yearning of the popular heart for
honest government; but they also I'M
derstaud, that the present uneasiness,
which pervades all classes OF society, is
the re,chings of a sick stomach, is an
effort Of nature TO vomit up and throw
off such disgusting charlatans, like
themselves, who have sneaked into Of
flee and whose presence in high places
Of public honor noiseates the body
polite. For it is apparent to every one
that if the reform movement succeeds,
a new. a different and better class OF
men will assume control OF our public
affairs. The people started this reform
lilo, politicians, who fail to POSSESS
single qualification for the high offices
to which they aspire. No man ever
dug his own grave voluntarily, aud we
doubt the sincerity Of certain shrewd
noli,icians who now rush to the front
and pretend to advocate new order OF
things. We believe it is trick to
hold on 10 office. We believe they are
determined to keep control OF our poll
tics at all hazards-cost what 1t may
and whatever money they expend IN
this behalf they expect to get back by
pros,ituting the facilities OF their respec-
tive offices. In the lobby of Congress
a Reformer, is a politician who cries
..catch, thief catch, thief J" aud hires a
detective to cover up his own rascality.
Hence while these pseudo reformers
preach morality, they practice inlquity
aud the masses are Observation-Disclosures
,.y subsidized Press, throttled by the
,,ickery of those in power, thro,tled by
The ia ty machinery ard by the lash OF
the party whip.
The very instruments created ny Tie
,eo,,,. for their own education and pro
lection, are perverted and employed to
blind. mislead and to crush them. The
masses are beaten but not deceived and
even now they are shifting about for
some method to reclaim possession OF
their public affairs. Here We have an
exclamation of the 'Independent voter,
of the .sGrapgers" and Of the popular
dislike 10 conventions and caucusses.
Things were different twenty years
400. and unless there is change, unless
the solid, sober, patriotic manhood OF
the fire-siLe is reused and directed
AGAINST the charlatans who are manipu-
lating the politics of this country that
thing which we call Cirll Libtrfy
il gone. Dep,nd upon it, the hearth
stone mus, assert its sovereignty and
drive from Office and from power the
,yr.,ched crew of venal and selfish pre-
tenders whose craftsmanship Is mere
dexterity in ricking honest people out
of their votes ; whose advancement and
success comes from the crack OF the
party whip, Instead of personal merit
and whose imbecility has brought this
great country TO the very verge OF bank
ruptcy. Unless this upheavsl OF the
,eople effects the regeneration OF our
nolitics, our institutions must fall to the
GROUND. We may preserve the shad-
ow. but not the substance. Venice was
still called Republic, when the man
date Of 4 single man sent thirty citizens
to the block.
But is it practicable for us to reach
the Preside and concentrate itsenergies'
This is melancholy question, but none
the less pertinent because sad. We can
accomplish nothing in this behalf except
through the Press. One paper has forty
times the influence of Peter the Hermit.
will the Press come to the rescue OF
Civil Liberty and strike one honest blow
for reforms Are not the politicians too
strong for The people!
We do not assert, that our editors
and publishers are subsidized, we SIM
ply put the ques,ion,-will the party or
gans publish the truth against the NOM
inee If convention makes mistake
and an unworthy man is nominated will
the leading party journals help to effect
his defeat! We make no charge, we
deal with stubborn lacts.-facts which
will not down at the bidding of any
man or combination of men.
1t is tie duty of the Press to instruct