Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-04-05

Is the greater now bocausn II Is n moral
ruin that lmpcnds. War, even civil
war, may sweep over the land and
cover tho harvest folds with tho bones
OF our first born. And the flowers will
bloom again over the graves OF the
dead, nnd harverts be increased by tho
iertilizing blood OF citizens. But for
national moral corruption there Is no
resurrection. Nations that sink in
their own rottcnncss 20 down into
everlasting shame and contempt, living
only In history as warning lessons to
succeeding agcs.
lie must be blind and deaf who does
not know that we, as u people, have
reached tho verge Of that prccipice
over which no nation ever Tell and rose
again. 1t may be cxaggerntion to ap-
ply tho language of the prophet TO the
American nation. "rhc whole head
IL sick and tho who,c heart faint from
the sole Of the foot even TO the head
there is no soundness in IT,"
But it is az safe as Il is sad TO say
that the party politics Of the country
are corrupt beyond the possibility Of
exaggcration. There IL no need of
any very nice determinations ms to
,cho or ,chdt is most in the Slough
One points to the other with the finger
oil shame, and it is bat a question Of
opportunity. "The Washington Ring
beats the Tweed Ring out of sight" is
the sententious confession and rctort
By which corrupt men in the two great
parties are stigmatized in the same
line. II Is not important TO make
political capital out of stock in which
the bold, bad men of all parties trade,
and will trade until they are driven to
their hiding places and prisons. The
most stdlsheartening feature in the whole
case is the unwillingness of the people
to regard II as anything more than
party fight. The painful truth is ap.
parent in the manner of conducting
Investigations in Congressional Com.
mittees. Party advantage, more than
public virtue, seems to be the ultimate
end of much Of the work that is done.
The party that hesitatcs to vote sup.
plies when the enemy is approaching
the capital is confessedly IN league
with the foe. The enemy that threat.
ems the nation now is Corruption, and
all hands shonld join in the patriotic
purpose Of reaching its sources, drying
up its foul streams and saving the
country.
This is the year Of all years for such
a revival, aud such a rogencrnting and
saving work. II is Of all years in our
national iic The one 10 be made me.
morable and glorious in our history By
the redemption of the government
from the grasp Of politicians, and its
establishment in tho hands of the poo
pie. This is the year, first, because it
is our Centennial year; and secondly,
because It is the year OF the Prcsiden.
tial election. 1
The patriotic, national, old-time sen.
timent ofthe fathers OF the Republic is
stirred as II was never before. Every
principle of honor, virtue, faith aud
courage that made our Independence
boon 10 Americans and mankind, comes
to the front and appeals to us to be
wise aud brave, and independent now,
when the country reels under the stag
gering Influences OF base, venal, trad
ing politicians"
To say that freedom is in greater
danger Of total destruction NOW, than
it was in 1862" is confessing q great
deal, and renders the rebellion very in
and corruption seriously
patent But il is as true as Holy
Writ. And unless the voters tack ,
back and elect honest men to office, |
Liberty will be doomed before five
years more roll around" /,