Wilmington journal., 1876-07-28

GOLD D>BORO, July 20.
Gov @. II. Brogden was nominate d
for Congress to- day on the ninth ba 'ot.
G..
INCEse ENCE IN ELECEiON>
Among. the many evils which cor
rupt and debase the body polite. the
iuterfel ence by government officials I'D
the freedom OF elections, is by no
means the least reprehensihle. The
fathers of the republic, and our earlier
Presidents inculcated and enforced i'll
the most emphatic manner the doc
trine, that the purity of the elective
franchise should not be interfered
with or attempted to be controlled by
those holding office under the govern
ment Freedom of election and nom
interference on the part of those
charged with administering the affairs
cf the government, was regarded bv
them as one of the bulwarks of civil
liberty, and any interference or at
tempted influence by officers OF the
government was sternly nebuked and
promptly punished. Indee |, removal
from from office followed quickly upon
auy such conduct on the part of any
official, it mattered not how subordi-
nate his position might be. Differ
ences of opinion upon the political
questions of the day were Recognized
and respected. An officer of the gov
er,ment had az much right to an
opinion then and to the full expression
thereof as any private citizen, without
fear of removal. He could vote as he
pleased. there was no restraint imposed
upon his conscience, nor were detec-
tives employed to spy upon his ac-
tions. So long as he kept alOof from
active interference in politics, and at
tended to the duties of his office he
was free to exercise his political prefer
ences as his Judgment might dictate.
This was the golden epoch of the
republic, when vice paid homage to
virtue, when office soug at the man and
not man the Office, when the pass
ports to success were honor and
integrity, and the genuine coin
shone blight and clear, and not,
as in these days eclipsed by the
wretched counterfeit, whose tinsel
show serves but to conceal its bases
ness. Those were the good old days
of honesty and truth, old fashioned
virtues it. is true, but nevertheless
worthy of imitation, but which we
are sorry to say have long since be-
come obsolete in the opinion and prac
tice of those who for near score of
years have controlled the destinies of
the country. They believe in no such
old fogyism as that, on the contrary.
they act upon the principle that the
end justifes the means, that to "p"t
morey in thy purse without question
ing too closely how it gets there, is the
only rule of action to be rigidiy OBJ
served. They believe that everything
must be made subservient to political
success, that the interests of party are
paramount to those of country, and
the first duty of an official is mott his
government, but to the party that
placed him in Office. That this is so,
let us refer to facts that are of daily
occurrence, indeed they happen SO
continually, that their very frequency
causes US to overlook them.
Look for example at the recent con-
duct of the present Secretary of War.
When was such spectacle ever exhib-
tied before since the foundation of the
government. One of it's executive Off
GERS, prominent member of the Cab
met, leaving his post of duty and
heading list of delegates to politi-
cal convention held to nominate can
didate for President, and not only that,
but using his influence and the pres
tige Of his high position to crush this ri
val, or to elevate that favorite, cal Oling
one delegation or threatening another,
Indifferent alike to personal decency |
and the dignity of place and besmear-
ing both in the seething cesspool of |
party politics. Would snch a thing |
have been tolerated by either of the
two great parties few years since
When such things are openly done
by he heads of departments and not
rebuked by public opinion, does it not
exhibit low standard Of morals, and
are we not justified in saying that we
have fallen on evil times and that the
glory of the republic has departed,
and can we wonder that every office
holder in the country should follow
The example thus set them, if they are
not indeed required to do SO by those
N authority. That they do follow in
he footsteps of their illustrious supe-
:iors in Office is fact that cannot be
ienied. for glance at any of their
conventions will abundantly prove it.
Take for example the one just held
It Raleigh to nominate a State ticket.
Who was it's controlling spirit :?
samuel f. Phillips, a law officer of the |