The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-04-21
SENATOR DAVID DAVIS.

His Opint0n - tho Old spoils-
Hunting Partaes-Ths BEST Hope 81
the Country Thought - Lie In the
Defeat Of Both.
Senator David Davis, Of Illinois, has
written the following letter on the polit-
ical issues Of the day:
WARRINGTON, April Q; 1881.
DEAR SIR / an much obliged for the friend
" expressions In your letter.
In my Judgment, the best hope for the
country 10 through reconstruction Of parties.
Our politics has become degraded into shame
fu! scramble for the spoils Of Office.
For weeks past the senate, which II supposed
to represent the best intellect Of both sides,
has been engaged In an unseemly struggle for
small places. Aud now, at the very start Of 4
new administration, this Republican factions
are arrayed against each other over the pat.
ronage.
Crest corporations and consolidated monopo-
lies are fast Selling the avenues Of power that
lead to control OF the Government. II 10 an
open secret that they rule States, through pro-
cured Legislatures aud corrupted courts, that
they are strong In Congress, and that they are
INSCRIPTIONS In the use OF means to conquer
prejudice and to acquire influence.
This condition Of things 4 truly alarming,
for, unless It be changed quickly and thoroughly,
Tree lu6ulutlOUb 9IO OOOu6U W D6 6uUbtltuteu
by All oligarchy, resting upon . basis OF money
and OF corporate power.
Every farmer in the West 10 bound hand and
foot by tho manacles Of monopoly. Corpora
tons prescribe the value Of his hard labor, and
his crop Is absolutely at their mercy. Who pro-
poses, on either side, TO protect the Just rights
OF the great agricultural community with %, !
Corporations not only levy toll on the indus
try OF tho farmer, but every blanket with which
their children are warmed, every plOwshare
that turns the soil, and the necessary articles
Of household economy, are taxed by nm cxor.
bitant tariff for the profit OF monopoly.
How can resistance be successfully made
against corporate power when both the great
parties are organized and run 40 close corpora.
tions2 Leading newspapers; recognized ii
Republican and Democratic organs, ARG owned
and directed by graspng monopolists to sub
serve their selfish schemes and to restrain OPP
position TO them BY either party. Their only
politics is greed Of gain.
One party retains possession Of the Govern
ment for quarter Of century by methods
which would long ago have condemned it X
crushing defeat. bnt fUr the errors Of Demo
cratic leaders, always committed at the worst
time. For long years past the Republican par
ty has existed upon sectional agitation and b,
tue follics Of its opponents.
There are hundreds Of thousands Of pure and
patriotic men in both organizations, who arr
rendered wholly powerless by the machine
management Of each, and who are POLITICAL,
cnslaycd by leaders that secretly unite when
ever yenal object Is to be gained by combina
ton.
Regular nominations dictated by professions
politicians, and the irresponsible caucus, III
rccted BY few ambitious leaders, contro
national, State and municipal politics. The,
put mp candidates, construct platforms, and
proclaim patriotic principles in fine phrases
which are mere shams
Practical reform is impossible on any larg.
scale while one hundred thousand offices, and
q patronage represented In some fyc hundret
millions Of annual receipts and expenditures
are offered as the prizes OF success. The part,
in possession, disciplined and led like regulsl
army has an enormous advantage, which j,
somewhat crippled by the bitter rivalry Of it,
chiefs.
Unfortunately for the Democratic party, !
was hostile to the Union during the civil war.
The fact that tens OF thousands Of Democrats
many Of them, too, from then slaveh0ldne
States. nobly volunteered their services for and
offered up their lives in defense Of tho old flag
does not affect this belief.
While that prejudice exists, the chances Of
success for the Democratic party are limited
however patriotic its purposes may be. II The
nero name should be abandoned, the Republican
party would die from the want OF an opposi
ton that now serves TO keep it alive.
national party founded on harmony be
tween ill parts Of the Union, real reform oil
abuses, economy in public expenditures, rigia
accountability Of officers. honest civil servic
free and fair elections, upright observance d
all constitutional obligations, and maintenance
Of the public credit, would b gladly welcomed
by the people.
Republicans and Democrats alike seek to b
emancipated from the vulgar despotism Of til.
machine" which 10 common to both parties
There are cheering signs that the end OF thu,
domination draws near In the popular demand
for good government, without respect to party
Ring rule must be overthrow, or il will stoI
the wheels Of progress and destroy the founda
tons Of social order.
These opinions have long been entertained
without the least desire for Concealment. Will
high respect, DAVID DAVIS
John Martin, Esq, Topeka, Kan.