The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-05-19
Something to ThinI. About.

Father, dear father, come home"
Something 10 ThinL. About.
An exchange says; The greatest
enemy of republican, form of gov.
ernmentis public corruption. The
love of liberty is founded in justice
and virtue. A corrupt peoplecannot
long remain a free people. History
emphasizes this fact.
The flood tide of public corruption
in this COUNTRY set in while Grant
occupied the presidential chair
This is admitted on all hands-in.
deed, it cannot be denied. The era
of Grantism is black page in Amer.
ics.n history. 1t is not necessary to
Specify the crime and revelations Of
that period. They are known to all.
They brought the people distress and
poverty, and the business Of the
country to ruin.
But that period of corruption was
effected in one thing. 1t enriched
the rich. 1t was the golden period
of spectators and monopolists. 1t
taught those whose love of wealth is
greater than their love of liberty
and public virtue, that the ways of
the fathers were not the ways to
make money easily by dishonest
means. The monied aristocracy of
this countay became consolidated and
united in purpose under Grants ad-
ministration as never before.
Now we begin to see the political
fruits of that corrupt period. A
"strong Government" is demanded
a government such as Grant gave
the country, reckless in expendi-
lures, prohigate in principle, sub
versive of constitutional presidents
and regardless of the rights and in
terests of the masses. The political
desperadoes and financial specula-
tors who became closely attached to
Grant during his administration
have resolved upon o change in the
form Of our government. They are
ready to take the first step for the
overthrow of American liberty
They do not want a Constitution
loving and conservative President,
who has tender regard for the old
cardinal doctrines of the past, be he
a Republican or Democrat. They
want q government that will protect
and foster wealth, without regard 10
any other consideration, and they
want that government strong and
permanent. Grant is the only tool
they can use to accomplish their pur-
pose, aud he will be nominated if
money and machine power can do it.
Butare the people prepared to fol-
low these men who have grown tired
of our republican form of govern
ment? Do they wish to see Ameri-
can liberty overthrown, and their
rights and interests, and those of
their children, turned over to the
tender mercics of "strong govern
strong to Cypress and rob
the many for the benefit of the few?
Is it not time for the sober-second-
thought of the American people to
assert itself? The people must rouse
themselves strongly if this conspiracy
against their liberty is to be over
thrown. There is no time for delay.
The struggle ahead is to be u death
struggle between money and corrupt
power on one side, and liberty and
popular right on the other.
Every true American has some
thing to think about now with re.
spect to his political duty. We see
no escape from this issue of the third
term. To meet it and overthrow it,
there must be sober sense of the re-
atty OF the danger ahead. We would
presenta syllogism for the consider
alton of every thoughtful citizen:
Grantism is founded in corruption;
corruption is the deadliest foe for
human liberty and happiness; ergo,
the third term is dangerous to the
liberty and happiness Of the Ameri-
can people.
The Convention.