The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-08-29

millions currency, in 1870; Or in one de-
cade, from less than SIS per head to more
than Sls per head.
Since the peace, the people have paid
to their tax gatherers more than thrice
the sum of the national debt, and more
than twice that sum for the Federal Gov
eminent alone.
We demand a rigorous frugalitv in
every department, and from every officer
of the Government.
THE PRoFLIGATE WASTE OF PUBLIC
LANDS.
Reform IS necessary to put q stop to the
profieate waste of public lands and their
diversion from actual settlers by the par
ty in power, which has squandered 200
millions of acres upon railroads alone,
and out of more than thrice that aggre-
gate has disposed of less than sixth di-
rectly to tillers of the soil.
THE SHIELD OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP.
Reform is necessary to correct the omis-
sions of Republican Congress and the
errCrs of our treaties aud our diplomacy
which have stripped our fellow-cltizens
of foreign birth and kindred race recross-
ing the Atlantic, of the shield OF Ameri-
can citizenship, and have exposed our
brethren of the Pacific coast to the incur
sions of q race not sprung from the same
great parent stock, and in fact now by
law denied citizenship through naturali-
eaton as being neither accustomed to the
traditions of a progressive civilization nor
exercised in liberty under equal laws.
We denounce the policy which thus
discards the liberty-loving German and
tolerates the revival of the coolie trade in
Monaghan women imported for immoral
purp oses, and Monaghan men, hired to
perform servile labor contracts, and de-
mand such modification of the treaty
with the Chinese empire, or such legisls-
ton by Congress within constitutional
limitations SIS shall prevent the further
importation or immigration of the Mon
golian race.
sECTARIAN STRIFE AND SECTIONAL HATE
Reform is necessary and can never be
effected but by making it the controlling
issues of the elections, and lifting 1t above
the two false issues with which the Office
holding class and the party in power seek
to smother it
|. The false issue with which they
would enkndle sectarian strife in respect
to the public schools, OF which the estab-
llshment and support belong exclusively
10 the several States, and which the Dem
ocratic party has cherished from their
foundation, and is resolved to maintain
without prejudice or preference for any
class, sect or creed, and without contrl-
buttons from the treasury to any.
.. The false issue by which they seek
to light anew the dying embers of Sec
tional hate between kindred peoples once
estrsnged, but now reunited in one indi-
visible republic and common destiny,
CIVIL SERVICE.
Reform as necessary in the Civil Ser
vice.
Experience proves that efficient, econ
omical conduct of the governmental bus
mess is not possible if its civil service be
subject To change at every election, be
prize fought FOR at the ballot box, be a
brief reward Of party zeal, instead OF
posts of honor assigned for proved COM
potency, and held for fidelity IN the pub
lie employ; that the dispensing of patron
age should neither be n tax upon the
time of all our public men, nor the in
strumept of their ambition. Here again
promises falsifed in the performance, at
test that the party in power can work out
no practical or salutaly reform.
OFFICIAL CRIMES AND MIsDEMEANoRs
Reform is necessary even more in the
higher grades of the public service.
President, Vice President, Judges, Sena-
tors, Representatives, Cabinet officers,
these and all others in authority are t. g
peopIes servants. Their offices are not Il
private perquislte; they are public trust.
When the annals of this Republic
show the disgrace and censure OF Vice.
President;
A late Speaker OF the House of Repre-
sentatives marketing his rulings as a PIE.
siding officer;
Three Senators proitlng secretly by
their votes as lawmakers;
Five chairmen OF the leading commit
tees of the late House of Representatives
exposed in jobbery;
A late Secretary Of the Treasury fore.
ing balances in the public accounts;
A late Attorney General missppropria-
ting public funds;
A Secretary of the Navy enriched or
enriching friends, by percentages levied
Of the profits of contractors with his de-
partment;
An Ambassador to England censured
in a dishonorable speculation;
The Presidents Private Secretary bare
" escaping conviction upon trial for
guilty completely in frauds upon the rev.
enue;
A Secretary of War lmpeached for
high crimes and misdemeanors;
The demonstration is complete that the
first step IN Reform must be the peoples
choice OF honest men from another party,
lest the disease Of one political organiZa-
ton il feet the body politics, and, lest by
making no change Of measures and no
real Reform.
REPUBLICAN REFORM IMPOSSIBLE.
All these abuses, wrongs and crimes,
the product OF sixteen years sscendancy
o! the Republican party, create n neces-
slty for reform confessed by Republicans
themselves; butther reformers are voted
down in Convention and displaced from
the Cabinet. The party's mass OF honest
voters are powerless TO resist the eoooo
offco boldnrs its leaders and guides.
A CIVIC REVOLUTION NECESSARY.
Reform can only be had BY a peaceful
civil revolution.
We demand a change of system,
change of administration, change OF
parties, that We may have
.Cu.NGE OF MEASURES AND OF MEN.
The Richmond Society Fluuer.