Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-06-30

Senators and Congressman are har-
assed with the claims of oflice-seekers,
and much OF their valuable time taken
away from their legitimate duties.
The fierce struggles caused by the des-
tribution of such an immense number
of officers, TIE frequent appointment of
persons totally unfit, the injury caused
thereby to the ppblic service, has
caused a general demand for Civil Ser
vice Reform, and both political parties
have been compelled to make it a prom
inent feature of their platforms
If the President and Senate are of
different political parties, then comes
the tug of war not war, however,
as to fitness and competency of ap-
pointees not as to what should be
done for the best interests of the coun-
try but purely and solely for the
flesh pots and camp kettles. In the
conflict between Andrew johnson and
the Senate Of the United States, there
were occurrences which would have
been more suitable in a horse trade
than between the Executive of the ma
ton and one of the highest delibera-
tive bodies in the world.
TIE DANGER OF COMMUNISM.
Another evil to which l will advert
is the tendency of political parties to
cater to the spirit of communism,
which has been growing to an alarm
ing extent in this country, and which
eliminated few years ago in an out
break of lawlessness and violence, dur
ing which several of the railroads Of
the country were seizrd, some of our
large cities controlled for a brief period
by mob law, and millions Of private
property destroyed. 1t was humil-
iating spectacle indeed, coming so soon
after the Centennial Exposition at
Philadelphia, but it was lesson that
the American people had to learn, and
its teaching should be that all political
parties should denounce everything
| tending to encourage communism, or
else receive the jus condemnation of
all honest people.
Among the great bulwarks of Eng
lish liberty transplanted to American
soil is that of the right of private pro-
/ perty, and it cannot be interfered with
without underminding the very foun-
daton of the government, Take away
the security that the law new gives to
property, and you take away every in
ccntive for the exercise of the virtues
of thrift, economy and industry, which
from the basis of nations greatness.
THE REMEDIES PROPOSED.
] have thus imperfectly pointed out
some of the evils existing in our sys-
tenn of politics, not in carping spirit
and with the view of pessimist, but
of an optimist rather, anxious only for
that which tends to purify our politics,
and make representative government
something to be held up to the other
nations of the earth as an example
worthy of their imitation. And, in
deed, until something is done to cor
rect these evils, Republican institutions
will exist largely in name only and not
in fat
Abraham Lincoln, in that memora-
BILE speech on the field of Gettysburg,
enunciated the doctrine that this is a
government "of the people and for the
people," But if under our system of
politics large portion of the people
are excluded from participation in the
primaries, where their influence would
be most felt in shaping the legislative
and executive policy of the govern
ment; if conventions are manipulated
by few leading politicians who seek
to perpetuate their own power by a
division of the spoils Of Office among
their adherents-then instead Of Icing
a government Of the people and by the
people it is the government of an oil
garchy and held together by no other
tie than the adhesive power OF public
plunder, and all that is needed will
be that a favorable opportunity pre-
sent itself for them to break up and de-
stroy our representative government,
and erect an imperial one in its stead.
ATTEND PHE PRIMARIES.
Do you ask wherein are the reme-
dies for these evils? l answer, first,
in full attendance at the primaries
by all good citizens, with determina-
ton on their part to make their infu-
ence felt: second, the overthrow of
the caucus, and the methods employed
by professed politicians to capture
State and National Conventions;
third, opposition TO unfit and unworthy
candidates not only by scratching, but
by voting against them fourth, high
er standard of qualification for office,
which required that the men should be
in every way qualified for the place I;
fifth, every possible safeguard to
be thrown around the ballot box
sixth, the abolition of patronage and
TIE spoils system; seventh, and
last, but not least, the complete and
entire overthrow of mere machine poll
ticians Let these things be done, and
our elective system will be purified aud
our country exalted among the nations
Of the earth,
THE MOST FAVORED NATION ON EARTH.
That, in spite of these evils, we are
favored above all the other nations of
the earth, should not cause us to be
Indifferent as to the future of this coun-
try. 1t is true, as was uttered by
Henry, Lord Brougham, that "Repub=
lies have none of these appendages
which the people have learned abso-
lutely to hate, and which a mere mar
row sitting of the account will make
them debit to kingly government an
insovent aristocracy; an intolerant
hierarchy; a veAatious ADMINISTRATION
Of the law; mighty standing armies in
peace time numerous colonies for pur-
poses of patronage and corruptoni bad
laws to hamper trade; unjust prefer
ences to oppress industry evil Gus
toms to discourage genius"
AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT.
| The snhiect unon which I have At