Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-05-25

cenaries, to be paid out ofthe Treasur,
of the Government, who, by or
gained action, endeavor to subjugat,
the will ofthe people to their ends
through the cultivation Of a tyranica
party spirit. Every student Of oul
political history knows that since the
spolls system was inaugurated cor
ruption has steadily grown from year
to year, and so long as the system
lasts, with all its seductions and de-
moralizng tendencies, corruption
continue to grow in extent and
power, for patriotism and true merit
will more and more be crowded out
of political life by INSCRIPTIONS self
ishncss The war has only given
a sudden stimulus to this tendency,
but without the war it would have
grown up, and will not cease to grow
as long as the hotbed of corruption
the spoils system, lasts. The skill in
corrupt practices acquired by one
generation of spoilsmen will only be
improved upon by the next. The re-
suit we know. We have already
reaped so great a harvest of disaster
and shame that, we repeat, it has
now become the first duty of Ameri-
can people to re-establish the 4oral
character of the Government by
thorough reform.
What can we do toward this end
in the impending national election !?
In this respect fellow citizens we con-
slider it our duty to speak very plain
ly. Never were the cause of good
government and the honor of the
American name more Immediately
dependent on the character, ability,
and reputation of the men to be
elected for the highest offices. In
view of the grave circumstances at
present surrounding US, we declare
that the country cannot now afford to
have any man elected to the Presi-
dency whose very name is not con-
elusive evidence of the most uncom-
promising determination of the Amerl-
can people to make this pure Gov
eminent once more. Our duty in
this respect is plain and imperative.
1t suffers no triing or equivocation.
The worn out clap-trap of fair prom
Uses in party platforms will not satisfy
it; neither will fine professions on
the part of the candidates. Not mere
words are needed, but acts, not mere
platforms but men. We therefore
declare and call upon all good citi
zens to join us, that at the
coming Presidential election we
shall support no candidate who,
in public position, ever counter
anced corrupt practices or COM
binations, impeded their exposure
and punishment, or proposed necessary
measures ofreform. We shall sup
port no candidate who, while possess
ing official influence and power, has
failed to use his opportunities in ex-
posing and correcting abuses coming
within the reach of his observation,
but for personal reasons and party
ends has permitted them to tester on;
for such men may be counted on, not
to uncover and crush corruption, but
for the party sake merely, to conceal
it more. We shall support no candi-
date, however conspicuous his posi-
ton or brilliant his ability, in whom
the impulses of the party manager
have shown themselves predominant
over those of the reformer, for he will
be inclined to continue that funda-
mental abuse; the employment Of the
government service as a machinery
for personal or party ends. We shall
support no candidate who, however
favorably judged by his nearest
friends, is not publicly known to pos
sess those qualities of mind and char
acter which the stern task of genuine
reform requires, for the American
people cannot now afford to risk the
future of the republic in experiments
on merely supposed virtue or rumored
ability, to be trusted on the strength
of private recommendation.
10 the word, at present, 40 candi-
date should be held entitled to the
support of patriotic citiz rs of whom
tho question may fairly be asked,
SIS be really the man to carry
through thorough-going reform OF
Government? Can he, with certain
ty, be depended upon to possess the
moral courage and sturdy resolution
to grapple with abuses which have
acquired the strength of established
custom, and to this end firmly to re-
sist the pressure, oven of his party
friends p Whenever there is room
such question, and doubt as TO the
answer, the candidate should be con-
sidered unfit for this emergency.
This is no time for so-called availa-
bilities, springing from distinction
gained on folds of action foreign to
the duties of government, nor for
that far more dangerous sort of
availability which cansists in this
that the candidate be neither so bad
as to repel good citizens, nor so good
as to discourage the bad ones. Pass
i've virtue in the highest place has
too often been known to permit the
growth of active vice below. The
man to be entrusted with the Pres
idency this year must have deserved
not only the confidence of honest
men, but also the fear and hatred of
the thieves. He who manages TO
conciliate the thieves cannot be the
candidate. Every American citizen
who has the future of the Republic,
and the national honor, sincerely at
heart, should solemnly resolve that
the country must now have a Presi-
dent whose name is already watch
word of reform, whose capacity and
courage for the work are matters OF
record rather than Of promise who
will restore the simplicity, independ-
ence and rectitude of the early adj
ministration, and whose life will be
a guarantee of his fidelity and fitness
"a man at the mere sound of whose
name, even, the most disheartened
will take new courage, and oil man.
A