Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-06-16

vengeance, calcul9ted to make the Amerl-l
can eagle give an extra flap of it's
wings as its floats majestically lover
the land of the free and the home of
the brave" The next evil is the machine,
which dominates both parties to great
extent. 1t is not simply an organization for
party success, but more and worse than
great principles, but for the spoils of
Office. Every machine has the requisite
number of cogs, wheels, pulleys and more !
would be supertluous. Every one who |
stands in its way is crushed as remOrse- |
lessly as Modoc Indian would slay his
captive. 1t is the American car of Jug
gernaut under which all the true manhood
Of the country is crushed. 1t is a con-
spiracy ON a large scale and is indictable
at common law and more dangerous to the
country than any other evil, communism
not excepted. Machine politics have built
up great chieftains and proved disastrous
in our larger cities. What a spectacle was
that presented by New York few years
ago, which with all its wealth, culture and
refinement was unable to govern itself,
and under the baleful influence of machine
politics was as completely under the in-
tiuence of Boss Tweed, as the dOminiOns
of the worst tyrant that ever sat upon
throne, and who laid his hand upon the
great emporium and plundered it with
less scruple and danger than the Highland
chieitans exacted their contributions.
Next comes the election. Principal
among the troubles that ensue Is an lndll-
ference among great many electors as TO
the principles involved, under which they
are beguiled into supporting unfit men,
and as Il result persons who are dlsquall-
fed for most everything else do thriving
business as politicians and very frequently
total unfitness for anything else is regard
| ed as the strongest evidence OF entire MT
ness for political life.
Another evil consists in the low tone of
political honesty that prevails among a
class of people who would scOrn to do a
wrong act in any other transaction in life.
They despise everything that is low and
mean and would not deprive their fellow
man of a farthing unjustly, and their word
would be as gOOd-as their bond in COM
mercial transaction, but think that little
croOkedness in political matters is not So
bad. This is radically wrong, as there Is
no rule of honor that is of binding objec
ton between man and man that does not
apply with equal force when the affairs OF
government are to be dealt with. 1t viii
not do to be punctiliously Observant of thu
code of morality in private affairs and dis
regard it in the affairs of nation as well
be cautious that some petty interest bt
preserved and yet unmindful if plane
, were to drop from it's sphere.
Then comes the Oifense of bribery and
bribe taking, bribing of legislative officers
which to the credit of of the country ant
to the credit of humanity is of rare occur
: renee.
Another evil is the illegal interference
with the ballot. The ballot is the dlstln
, gushing feature of our government.
. makes the legislative, executive and judi
cial officers, and should be kept pure
There should none but honest votes g
into the box and an honest and fair cOun,
made. To tamper with the ballot shOul(
,, be made an otfense as OdiOus as treason
and as long as it is possible to pollute
by stuffinS the boxes or falsifying tn
p count, that long is it possible for til
dishonest and wicked to Overpower tn
n honest and law abiding. Take for exampl
: the last presidential election. 1t wa
q i'm the centennial year of the nations life
We had invited the other nations OF til
n world to Oar shores to vie with us Ill on
q of those grand expOsitiOns in which tn
, genius, the skill and handicraft of all til
Z nations of the earth were exhibited in gen
: erous rivalry. We were exultant owe
Il many things, but above all from the fac
# that this was the peoples government
II owned and crotrolled by them, and tina
a here there was larger liberty of though
II and action than elsewhere. But how 500
If were modification and shame to com
N with the exposure that followed the inves
4 tication of the election, and even now W
\ have no statute to provide against lis
" emergency.
5. It is the highest duty Of every America
f. citizen to guard the ballot, which Is
,t force more potent than the edicts of kins
70 and emperOrs, than fleets and armies
+ Light as feather, yet strong enough
r bear the superstructure of the mightle
,s government ever created upon the plane
ts and it is the only hope for the emancip
St ton of the race from kingly oppression
England is extending the right OF suffraS
IS and France has secured Republics
f. form of government; but soclalls
q threatens Germany and nihilism hans
N like thunder cloud over Russia and tt
i fact of an attempted assassination
:. nearly ever crowned Head in Europe vel
70 fies the adage that .'uneasy rests the hea
!; that wears a crown" The ballot, not I'll
,t bullet, will remedy these troubles.
re Another bad feature in our system is I'll
a. mode of appointment to office by the pres
j. dent and Senate, by which offices are del
no out as reward for political service
which is bad enough if both are OF I'll
II same political persuasion, but if OF differe'
Is political parties it then degenerates into
in war for the flesh pots and camp kettles.
no Another evil is the tendency to encou
is age communism, which should be frOWnt
IN down by all political parties, as it tends
re take away every incentive for thrift, l
TO dustry and economy which form the bas
of of nations greatness.
Y. Do you ask what is the remedy for the
IS evils9 | answer First, the attendance
a, the primaries by all good people; secon
90 the overthrow of the caucus and Il
in methods employed by the politicians
,- capture conventions third. opposition
- unfit candidates fourth, ahigher standa
va of qualifications for office; fifth, every pc
bt sible safeguard around the ballot bo
iii sixth, the abolition of the spoils system
nc seventh, the complete overthrow of m
e. chine politicians.
os The subject is one that comes home
or every American citizen, and concerns {
ev welfare and perpetuity of our institution
nd especially those who are coming on t
,le stage of action. No higher or greater drl
10 in the battle of life will fall upon the st
in dents of this honOred place OF learnl
no than to help administer the great trust
n; free government, and in doing this, qua
no the ballot as you would the apple OF yo
ho eve. And if the youn. men who go for
IT, .x,,fin fNf