Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-10-24
ELECTIONS.

uiscoruhnce OF sentiment among gOou
men OF all parties. II is essential 10 the
permanency of our institutions, that
every citizen, high or low, rich or poor,
without respect TO race. color or previous
condition of scrvitude, should have Sc.
cured TO him the right to vote without
interference or intimidation. There
should not only be no dc NAL of this right
but every citizen should be actively pro.
tected therein. There should be no tam
pering with the ballot box. There should
be no unlawful votes permitted TO be
cast There should be no wicked chang.
ing of votes cast, or false returning of tho
results. The very continuance Of our
government depends upon an uncon.roll-
ed and honest expression OF electors and
upon an honest count. If intimidation
and fraud are to be permitted to control
our elections, VIC may as well admit that
we are unequal to the task of lfgoyern.
ment. To secure such honest vote, l
have always favored, and do now favor
such reasonable regulations as will pre-
vent unlawful votes and punish an lille.
gal voter. If TO accomplish that end,
some personal inconvenience must be
submitted to by the legal voter in regis
tering his name, be should cheerfully
submit thereto, in the interest OF purity
of elections and the stability OF his gov
eminent.
And in this connection, / take this oc-
casion To dcnoupce all intimidation OF
voters, all public'o or social ostracism for
political cause, all outragcs upon any
citizen for difference In political faith.
Throughout this whole land every citi-
zen should have the free and unquestion.
ed right to entertain his own notions OF
political faith, without fear or intimida.
tlon, and to exercise all his political
rights without constralnt. And in com.
mon with all good citizens, demand
that any and all infractions of such
right, any and all intimidation or vic.
lencc inflicted upon any citizen for his
political faith, shall be punished, swiftly
and surely, by tho law of the land. There
must be no political ostracism no politi-
cal assassinations.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
desire, also, to express my firm be.
lief in doctrine much derided by the
machine politicians of all parties, the
doctrine of civil service reform.
The history ofour country has exhib-
tied the establishment of vast army of
office holders who do but little of tho
public service, being mainly engaged in
advancing the interests of the political
party under whom they hold. They are
not servants of the people, but Of their
party. They manage and control cleo
lions, mt the expense Of the public. The
duties of their position are confined 10
tho care of agents not selected by the
In III Ia IlntF m Ii N In nF nT-
flee and uphold the cause of their party.
This system Is sought TO be sustaihed up.
on tho maxim that"to the victors belong
the spoils," most unholy and mischicv-
Gus theory that has worked untold cor.
ruption in the body polite.
Any party long in power will become
corrupt, because tho cormo.ants, that
are without principle or honor, will at
tach themselves to whichever party hap
pens to be in power, and obtain control
oithe gains of office. They are the bar.
nacles which load down and may sink
the ship of stale. To obyiate this error,
to do away with these political sharks,
our civilservice should he reformed aud
restored TO the honesty which character.
lied the early days OF the republic. Quail
ification for Office should be determined
by the old time criterion: Is he honest?
Is h0 capable? Is he faithful?
We have now the unseemly spectacle
OF tho removal of nearly every employe
of the government upon n change OF adj
us If the safety of the Union
upon tho janitor of custom
house, who cleans the spittoons, enter.
tanning political opinions at one with
the party in power.
This should all be changed, and when
one Is found faithfully, honestly and well
performing his duties in subordinate
office he should not be removed because
of his political opinions. Remove the
heads of departments, IL you will, for
they give efficacy to supposed needed
change of political policy: but the sub.
ordinates, who merely manage the rou'
tine and details of government machin-
cry, should be judged by the sole stand.
ard efficiency and honesty. No banker
would think of discharging an honest
faithful teller because of his political
opinions; or employ dishonest, faith
less, incompetent man because OF polit-
ical agreement with him. Kun your
government, ns you run your business.
The people will be the better served.
and you will remove from the arena OF
politics the most corrupting agency that
threatens the National life.
know this is not a popular doctrine
with politicians, from fear their party
will lose its hired retainers but am not
politician, and am here to speak my
honest thought. Parties will survive the
politicians, and believe with President
Hayes, in the noblest sentiment hs ever
uttered, "lic serves his party best, who
serN es his country best"
RESUMPTION.
The advent of more prosperous times,
the shifting of the balance of trade in
favor Of the United States, and returning
confidence, have enabled the government
TO resume specie payment upon the day
designated by resolution of the congress.
Partial resumption has been reached, and
believe IL the duty of tho citizen to aid
TO make such resumption permanent 1t
il idle now TO enquire il such resump.
ton has been compsssed with the least
injury possible. A wise ststesmauship
deals with tho present and the future,
not with the past Resumption is here,
and must he maintained.
Ii is for the Interest of tho business OF
the country: ii is for tho interest OF ev-
cry producpr IN tho land that currency