The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-08-29
Democratic Reiormers and the DEM
ocratic Idea OF Reform.
THE ST. LOUIS CONVENTION AND
THE FINANCES.
The False Virtue that Connives
at Murder.
WHY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
CANNOT BE TRUSTED.
Extracts from senator Morton's In-
dianapolis speech.

Think OF it, the leaders OF the Re-
belliOn. the ku Klux and White Leag-
ners, the organizers of murder. the
plundcring hacks and humbugs that
have come down To us from 20 years Of
Democratic misrule before the war, the
broken-down fugitives from the Re-
publican party who had been kicked
out for incapacity and fraud, and, in
short, all the authors of the great
misfortunes that have fallen upon our
country for the last quarter OF a cen
tury, uniting together and shouting
themselves hoarse with the cry Of re.
form. With such men plunder is the
purpose and reform tho pretense.-
They are as incapable OF reform as
they are of making reparation and
atonement to the country for the in
Vulnerable crimes they have commit
ted. Many OF them are bankrupt from
the Rebellion, lank, starving, fierce,
aud ravenons as famished wolves, and
ut the first opportunity will bury thcm-
selves in the public treasury as tho yul-
ture does It's head in the newly found
carcass.
These relics of the Rebellion, these
lingering remains of the Sons of Lib
srty, these connecting links with for
mrr gencratIpns OF frauds. robbories
aud sEams, these putrescent renlnis-
cerces Of slavery, congregated at 81.
Louis md dubbed themselves reform
Crs.
Remember that they are the men
who brought the war upon the coun-
try, who have buried half a million of
soldiers, who have piled up billions of
debt. and who have peopled the land
with widows and orphans.
What think you Of such reformersf
With them We may say Of reform, AZ
was once said Of patriotism, that II il
the last refuge Of scsundrels. What
think We when the wrecker Of railroads,
who has amassed his millions taken
from his ruined stockholders, when the
land-grant statesman, the voter Of sub
sides, are put forward as the cham
pions Of reform aud the protectors OF
the people. Ii would be another illus
tratlon of the fable of the wolves who
procured themselves to be elected
guardians OF the sheep whom they af-
terward devoured.
DEMOCRATIC IDEA oP REFORM.
1t is O Democratic idea that the rel
les and debris Of rebellion, the par
doned traitors Of an inhuman civil war,
who war.. rosrsa "a ths IsP OF uisycTy;
that the graduates from the high
schools OF the ku klax and White
Leaguers, the administrators aud de-
Tenders OF Andersonvilie and Saulis-
Vur,, 4nd tho afumui-- OF rammauy
Hall constitute the true reformers of
the day. To the Democratic mind the
education furnished in these institu
lions gives the highest guarantee for
reform and integrity in Office.
Every profession ia favor OF civil
service reform by the Democratic par
ty il utterly hypothetical. Should 1t
come into power every Republican III
Ger will at once be turned out, and 1t is
for this the battle is being fought
Tlden and Hendricks, as Governors,
have had the power to introduce this
reform into their own States, but their
ADMINISTRATIONS have been remorseless-
iy partisan. If they were IN earnest
IN their professions on that subject
they could stop 1t any day, and show
their faith by their works.
We are asked 10 forget their history
| and To accept as an atonement for the
/ past the promise that they will becom"
. great reformers in the future. They
7 remind us of the fable of the two old
rats, who, after having laid waste the
cheeso-room and pantry, asked aimis-
sion to the new kitchen up'u the
/ ground that they were reformed rats
/ who wished to change th-ir business.
aud knew how to keep out other ami
mails of the same character.
THE GREAT REFoRMER.
1 Mr.. Kelley, and other leading Dem
/ ocrats, before the nomination, earnest
ly described Mr.. Tilden ss railroad
wrecker, "A character we'll known ia New
York and London. who deals in broken
down railroads aud puts them on their
ioct again, in which process the ongi-
ual stock and bondholders lose their
entire investment aud the assets pass
chiefly into the wrecker's hands. They
described him as lawyer who seldom
appeared in court, and boldly affirmed
tnat he had thus made fortune Of
from six TO ten millions OF dollars
When ships are cast upon rock-bOund
coast the wreckers come down upon
them, often numbering the surviving
mariners and always robbing them OF
every valuable thing.
RKFoRNER MoRRIssRY AND OTHERS.
IL is we'll known that John Norris
sey, the prize fighter and world-re-
nowned gambler, was Tilden's cham
pion at st. Louis aud had more 10 do
with his nomination than any other
dozen men, and that Morrissey's gild
ed gambling hell was the Tilden head.
. Ia aat "A
will be this.
The worlds history that the greatest
thieves and plunderers, after they had
laid in a sufficient store OF wealth.
have turned relormers and put the
world To shame by their exhibition ol
superior virtue. How many kings and
robber bsrons after lives OF murder
rapine. aud the sack of cities bav,
made atonement by founding churche,
and monasteries, thus disgorgiDg I
small part of their blood-stained plum
der and then died in the odor OF sane
tity aud took their places among th'
saints. Tweed, when lac was overta
ken by misfortune, was not so rich a
'Tildcn; but IL ia au open secret that la
had in contemplation, after continuing
business for a year or two longer. h
turn reformer and become the regen
orator of the public aud private moral
nf New York. Tweed's benevolen
'purpose was defeated hy the uutimel
publication OF the specific evidence o
his crime, Of which his friends wer
compelled to take notice. He had 70
nunber Of years been at the head @
the TsmmaDy Society OF New York, @
which TildeD was leading membe
and sachem. This Tammany Societ
had for - years been regarded b
many as the most corrupt political al
ganizntion ia the world--emphaticall
brotherhood OF thieves. and n clos
corporation to which none but the mo,
distinguished artists were admitted
IL assumed complete admiralty juri'
diction in the adjudication and disir
button Of political prizes in the Sta'
81 New York, and aspired To extend
over the United States, and did not,
riously control the Democratic N.iini
Z Al Couventios in 1868 That Twes
aad hss cang were tho oha'ppio
i'ifhshes q fi.e Nafiop ha been a We
4aI.,~... I. :, q % 4 - h.f,sra bts fall aa An