Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-12-20

is ization, done under our own eve
> (; throw light upon those disputed points
3, If morals were violated at the iountal
70 head in the North, were they respec
D. cd by men of worse than doubtfi
ID character at the South I? Those mel
Is by their call upon the general admi,
q istration tor its armed forces, proclaim
e. ed TO the world their dependence upo
its power, and their svrvitude 70 Il
l. wishes. The head Of the Republica
l. committee held the double position
+ Cabinet Minister, advisirg and d
o recting the action Of the govcrnnen
If and at the same time managing th
Il machinery Of party Thus al an Q,
d citing election the government OF tb
g Union openly allied itaelf with party
IS gave it power Of coercion over i
!, officials, in violation ci the spirit Of th
o laws against intimids ion and bribery
o II did just what II charges against th
:. people Of the South. What lessons o
e law and morals and Of duty did sucl
: example teach these dependent official
in Louisiana? These questions mus
, press themselves upon the minds anc
= consciences Of every honest man. Unit
= we ponder well upon what we know
Q of the canvass at the North, we can
not judge wisely with regard TO IL
r character at the South. Were men o
{ bad reputation, acting under the infu
ences Of interest and passion, temptec
to violate duty and morals by the OK
{ ample ofa committee headed by Cabi
net officer? II we can conscientious,
say the conduct Of the committee wal
J right, we can then 20 on and investi
gate the conduct Of officials at th,
: South. If we soc that IL was wrong
we need look no further.
II, by any trick or fraud, the candi
date Of the minority is placed in the
Presidential chair against the wishes
Of the people, every man who has thus
been forced TO pay for bis election will
have right TO say to bis administra.
tion, "You demanded our money 10
place you in power. We demand the
positions we bought Of the accredited
head OF your organization" The great
point Of civil service reform is to avoid
this corruption and to make the ten
ure OF Office depend upon capacity and
fidelity. We do not believe the Re.
publican party has in mere mockery
so constantly asserted its advocacy Of
civil service reform. We cannot think
that its writers and speakers, and those
who have been employed in develop
ing this system, have been shameless
pretenders, only seeking Office or ap.
planse. The evil Of this transaction
will fall upon the American people,
but the shame will be that of the Re.
publican party, if they do not now vim
dicate their earnestness when thus
challenged by acts so notorious.
The member Of Congress who OBJ.
jected to the reduction Of salaries upon
the ground that the employe needed
all 10 enable him 10 do bis duty, and
who will stand, silent and consenting
witness to reduction for party purposes,
condemns himself as q corrupt and
dishonorable member OF the national
legislature.
We appeal 10 the Republican party
10 make such expressions of its con-
demnation ftbese acts as will quicken
their leaders with sense OF what is
due to their country. The power is in
their hands the guilt and the shame
will be theirs If II is not exerted.
We do not fear that the body Of the
Republicans wish to do, but what
they viii have to do, if they take
"a false step at this time. If they ac-
cept power from unclean bands, they
can never check or lay bare the fraud
OF those who TINS make tenure Of their
authority. They must hide wrong.
doing and shelter il from punishment
or they will expose the rotten basis Of
their positions. The past shows the
danger OF such false steps. If the ad-
ministrntion had needed the warnings
Of its own friends and had not upheld
by force the men in Louisiana con-
vlcted Of illegal acts, our country
would not now be involved IN these
periis. Because il shielded wrong.
doing then, IL is presssd to do so now. |
II must 90 further and deeper in vio-
lence, il i lacks courage and patriotism
now. When il bases It's authority upon
mere force, II will fall under the slavery
OF men il meant to use as tools and 10 /
tolerate merely for party purposes.
They will be compelled TO meet their
brazen demands. Their claims as the
makers Of the administration cannot be
questioned. In this, history will but
repeat itself
In view Of the vital importance Of
the questions which agitate our coun-
try, mere partisan results Of the cleo.
tion sink limo insignifcance. If the
only question was who should hold
certain political positions, we might
look with complacency upon the politi-
cal outrages and blunders which our
opponents may commit, in their efforts
10 thwart the will Of the people. The
majority cannot be kept out Of power
for any length Of time, by any devices.
The policy heretofore pursued by the
toward the South, and
In Louisiana, has cut down
the Republican msjorities in the North.
ern States since 1872, more than five
hundred Thousand votes.
If we sought merely party advan.
tages we could not regret their folly u
they continne a policy which has driv.
en- from their ranks such multitudes of
men which has placed them in the
Union, and which will drive them out
Of power in evey city, county and
State. At the first elections il would
clear the Senate and purge the House
Of every guilty actor in wrong doing.
They have more political power TO lose
outside Of the Capitol st Washington
than the honest result Of tins election
viii take from them stibe seat Of GOV.
srnment Complaints are now made
BY the Republicans throughout the
country that their interests are sacri
seed TO the selfish schemes Of lew
eaderr.
lwill no, speak hsrshly Of wha, men
may have been inclined 10 do before I
he heat Of the contes, bad passed .
.wsy. They have been tempted to !
IclIow che shadow Of victory, although !
I would prove ghost ofsucce.s which {
~ouId lead TO political grave. wele
rust that calmer moments will bringl |
riser eounseIs, for in the end their own a
partisans will condemn them aud look q
ipou them a. tainted men who arc 10 |
g shunoed. The political action Of I
be year has taught the Lesson that 4