The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-09-18
Reasons tor IA Change OF Administration.

/
There are important reasons for change o
| Administration, aside from the fact that al
parties become corrupt by long and unchcck
ed possession Of power. In prescribing limit
of four years for the presidency, the trainers OF
the constitution wisely intended that the acts
and policy of its incumbents should be sub
jeCted to review after "A short term of service
| They meant to draw the line broadly against
the monarchlcal principle Of life tenure, and
to demand prompt accountability from all
public servants.
First, and above all other considerations for
change at this time. is the duty of rcbuking
the Great Fraud of 1876, and of branding the
conspirators with disgrace. They stole the
Presidency, and are now enjoying rs the re.
wards Of their crime the high honors, the of.
fees, and the patronage of the general govern.
ment. Their influence and power are openly
cXcred to continue misrue, and to preserve
party ascendancy.
Before n vote was taken in the Electoral
Commission, the conspiratOrs forcshadowed a
determination to overthrow the will of ma
jority OF a quarter of a million of voters by
perjury, fraud, forgery, and fabricated certif,
Gates This was to he done by the aid of two
judges OF the Supreme Court, who were ap.
pointed by Gen Grant with the especial Oh
ject of reversing the legal-ten Ter decision, by
which act the financial crisis Of 1873 and all
its terrible consequences were prcclpitated up
on the country.
In the Florida case, the first before the
Commission, Stanley Matthews boldly an
nounced that the decision was forgone con
clusion. On that occasion he said:
at was a quaint saying, believe, OF Sci.
den, in an essay on Papal councils, where he
Il
llghtened by the presence Of the Holy Ghost,
that he had generally found that the spirit
dwelt in the odd man"
He knew in advance what the eight would
do against the seven, no matter what case
might be presented, nor how commanding
were the proofs of ,rildens rights.
1t the seal of popular condemnation IS not
put upon the Great Fraud at the coming cleo
ton, the first perlous step will be taken to-
ward the sanction of revOlullOa, after the
Mexican fashion, in making president. DE
stroy the safeguards erected by the constitu
ton, and the name of free government will be
but mockery, to be jeered at by every desno
tlsm on earth.
If the public credit Is to be, as it ought to
be, preserved and strengthened, it can only be
done surely and effectively by reducing expen-
dltures, looping off excresccnces IN the public
service, abolishing sinecures, diminishing Of
fees, and by putting the administration on
strictly business footing. The custom houses,
the post offices, the internal revenue, and all
other branches are now audaciously run IN the
interest of party. They are parts of the ma
chine, and at this very time they are all enlist
ed, from The heads OF departments down to the
ton of the Credit Mobilicr candidate.
The rppuhlIcan leninra Va bn l;vn a,J rrn,,
by system which makes the government the
creature of their ambition anu interests, of
course resist change which would render
them powcrlcss. Hence, while Conkling,
Cameron, Logan, and the like, may despise
GARFIELD and admit his venality, they are inter
ested in pcrpetuating the system which he
represents, and by the success of which they
still hope to thrive
The extravaganza, plumber, corrupt comb.
nations, ring thievery, and other excuses of
the republican party, reused popular indigna-
ton IN 1874, and swept majority of one hun.
dred in the House OF Representatives out of
possession. The reforms that follc we'd that
change give assurance of what II Is possible to
achieve on larger scale, under wise direction.
A saving OF nearly one hundred millions. as
compared with the regular republican expen
ditures, has been made since the House of
Representatives passed into democratic hands,
When the republican party came into DOW
er IN 1861, the American flag iloated on every
sea. Now 1t has almost disappeared from
commerce, and we are paying England, France
ana Germany over seventy.tive millions wear
to transport merchandise which ought to be
carried IN American bottoms. British trade
especially, Is enormously enriched BY this re-
publican policy, and our exporters and i'm.
porters are subordlnated to the exactions of
foreign shlpmastcrs and corporations.
The present anomalous tariff levies dHt,es
on nearly four thousand articles, many of them
barefaced extortlons, and solely for the benefit
OF few monopoists, who have grown i'm.
mensey rich by special legislation. The re.
publican party built up these favored classes
and Is bound to protect them in the event OF
success.
The republican programme is to continue
sectional strife, and to inflamc passions North
and South, so that there can be no complete
reconciliation, such as patriotic men of both
sections honestly desire
No reform Of these and other evils is possl.
BILE if Garfield should be elected because he
Is not only their chosen exponent but as a
legislator he is directly responsible for MANY
oil them, and by his votes for every one of the
political outrages of violent majority from
1858 down to 1875.
The only remedy left is in a changelof rul.
ers. All the signs indicate that the change
VIII be made by the election of Hancock.
j. Sun