The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-06-15
: Good Men and Politics.
From The Southern Carstian Advocate

Every morning the public conscience
is shocked by new revelations of official
corruption. The daily papers might keep
certain headlines Standing" for con-
slant use. Indeed, we are surprised when
the telegraph does not bring us tidings of
new frauds practiced upon the people by
some of their servants-otherwise called
public officers. Men ask their neighbors,
as they open the morning paper, "Who
fell Yesterday" or "Who's found out
now?" It seems to be very like agener-
alpestilence; it is here, there, everywhere.
As in great city desolated by cholera or
yellow fever, they cease to count the
dead, except in official records. Men be-
come accustomed to death. At such
times they grow careless and hard. We
saw, on one occasion, during cholera
season, men quarreling around an open
grave, about the fee for digging it. So
now, official corruption has become so
common that the people cannot "keep
tally" and the time has passed that new
revelations can surprise them.
Official regulations are tumbling Oh
every side. From the War Secretary
down-or up as men may judge-new
names are being entered on "the black
list" tits growing fearfully- -portentious-
ly long. It is inexpressibly distressing
and humiliating. Above all, in this Cen
tennial year! Does it not seem that the
old-world monarchies are having their
revenge now? What are we to think :?
What are we to do?
One thing is quite clear to us; we must
not fall into the state of morbid suspl-
ciousness of all public officers, because 80
many have turned out to be thieves
There are no doubt hundreds of thieves,
but, as we believe, there are thousands Of
honest men. This is day of investiga-
ton, and therefore of retribution, for the
thieves. Investigation turns calcium
light upon them and makes them con-
spicuous. But let us resist the tempta-
ton to universal suspicion. We cannot
get along in society without confidence
in each other. A fundamental article
in our social and religious creed is this:
"Honest men are in the majority" To
us it is, like the doctrine of justification
by faith, Wholesome and full of COM
fort" Croaking now is sort of treason
to the country. The Roman general who,
in time of disaster and distress, "did
not despair of the Republic" deserved
thanks voted him by the Senate and peo-
pie of Rome. Good citizens should not
despair of our American Republic to-
day. =. ,
But there are some great practical
questions, we lad just as we'll make up
our minds to take hold of in real earn
est.
For one thing, we have had enough OF
government by professional politicians
and chronic place-hunters. They have
grown too great in their own eyes to be
great in the eyes of sober men. They
seem to think that the people exist for
them. They will actually bristle up with
porcupine Indignation if their right to
govern and tax the people for their spe-
cial benefit be challenged. Did they not
create the people? And do not the peo-
pie belong to them?
The people-a great, patient PACK
horse-has carried the intolerable burden
of mere place-hunters for generation
But the load has grown burdensome, and
the horse is going to 'unload"-in some
way. The riders would save trouble by
dismounting at their earliest conven'
ience." The patience of the people Is
great, but it is not infinite.
Let the people good citizens Stake
their affairs into their own hands. They
are quite able to manage them. Le
them begin at the bottom-attend the
"primary meetings" and vote and speak
as we'll as the professionals" 1t vii
startle the serenity of not few. But the
people can stand it if the Office hunter
can't. There is great need of reform, a
it seems to us, in this matter Of attending
the "primary" ward and county meetings
They have been welded into "rings" b!
the place-seekers, let the people break tn
rings and make them what they are prop
erly called, conventions" Our bes
men, as rule, do not 60 near these meet
ings. And it is very great misfortune
for the country. The good men frequent
" wake up to the necessity of doIni
something to keep bad men from con
trolling public affairs, but generally
when it is too late.
The time has come for self-denial-1
self.denial be necessary for the discharg
of patriotic duty. Good m'en must tai
parEan active, controlling part, IN polite
They must, and if they mill they can, Iu
bad men ont, and good men in, Office.
In both parties there are honest an
true men; men who fear God and lov
their country; who will administer th
laws righteously and collect the revenue
honestly. Let them be sought out an