The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-09-07
MODERN POLITICS

WuUIHN TullllSo
The formative ago was the golden age
Of the republic so far as the purity and
dignity of our rulers and public men
are concerned, The simple dignity Of
Washington, the Adamses, Jefferson,
Madison and Monroe and their seoreta,
ries and assistants stand out grandly
now At this distance, in contrast with
the more vigorous and active, but less
pure and unsolnsh modes pursued by
the public men Of today, In that day
the whole study Of the president and
and cabinet was how to serve most Of,
fectually the great objects of govern
mont, TO do the most good at The small,
est outlay Now, however the sole OBJ
jcct seems TO be how to best serve par'
tiaan ends and secure reelection The
safety and prosperity Of the country
are objects second 10 the success OF the
party and the personal triumph of its
leader The president Is no sooner go
curely seated, than the ppe'loying for
the future national convention and
election commences, True as this is in
national sense yet il is far exceeded
by the rule and practice of tho states,
congressional districts and cyen.down
TO county affairs
The reserve and dignity which, in
tho early days of our government
characterized the government of states,
IL lost forever, we fear. It is true, alas,
that the conduct of officials themselves
invite the seemingly harsh judgment.
The crop of governors raised in the
south after the close OF the war, lacking
in ability, experience, character, and in
every quality necessary to fit them for
their positions, dealt terrible blow to
the popular respect for authority,
Moses, Bullock, Ames kellogg and
Davis, not forgetting or underra>
ting Governor, Parson Joe Brooks, are
all cases in point, and Chamberlain the
hoquet of assurance, peculution and
greed, towers head and shoulders above
the choice collection of modern GOV.
ernors. Is it any wonder that our inns
poverished section is yet staggering
under the load Of misery placed on its
shoulders by these Incompetence Isit
any wonder that the American system
is sneered at by Europe, and c,rsed by
our own pcople2
The evils glanced at are due to the
fact that modern politics has become
one of the modern trades by which men
live, thrive and make money. 1t is not
the people but themselves which offices
holders serve A little petty dcor-keqp
en- in congress becomes "a greater man
than old Grant because he has como
patronage at his command, and was the
oXNoilicio paymaster OF congress- The
ancient presidents became poorin Office,
the modern Grant found the Office n
very bonanza, and out of it he realized u
few millions in eight short years. With
these lights before US, can we wonder
that the country is staggering along
under n load of debt almost too ntolcr,,
able to be borne, and that bankruptcy
lies in plain view Of every man doing
business otany character requiring the
outlay of money and indeed tho quiet
plodding farmer is but little better oil.
Taxation is burdensome and money
to pay it with The delinquent lists
everywhere are enormously swollen
All these evils are clearly traceable to
Incompetent and faulty legislation and
incompetent and dishonest administra.
ton. The government sunk nearly as
much money in the Northern Pacific
railroad rs they did in subiugating the
south, Would old time congressman
have voted for the Credit Mobilier bill
or would an old time president have
failed to veto it Bribery and corrup>
ton was the rule in congress, and theft
and defalcation out of it. Modern poll
tiles consists only in modern schemes
OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
The picture is not o pleasant one to
contemplate but to ignore it longer
would be orrant folly. Let us look it
squarely in the face, and if possible en-
deavor to find some remedy, even if we
have to submit to the proposition to
put honest men into public positions
again.
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THE STATE OVER.
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