Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-16

UVANo VA w IA AAA5s
Editor Morning Nesos: The political
history of this country during the past
twelve years, recording the unscrupu-
Ious ambitions, shameless corruptions,
and degrading schemes for retaining
office, of the party that. in that period,
have possessed and controlled the Ma
tional Government. recalls to my memo.
~ paper read by DR.. Franklin in the
convention that framed the Constitution,
and that is so applicable to the course of
the Republican party that | transcribe
extracts from it for the consideration of
your readers.
The wisdom of Dr. Franklin presaged
the dangers which threaten our repub-
lie at this time, and which, if not
checked, will undermine it, and with it
our liberties. The perils anticipated by
the wise old doctor are to-day realized in
our national, State and local politics, as
witnessed now in Albany, N. Y, and in
Virginia. In both of these States the
political contentious of the Republicans
are for the spoils Of Office, sapping pub
lie virtue, and aiming to subject Demo-
cratic Republicanism to the autocratic
will of monied aristocracy. But, from
the facts to the figures of them, as por-
trayed by DR.. Franklin ninety four
years ago.
The question under consideration in
the convention was ''the compensation
of the Executive "Sir."
read the venerable doctor, there are
two passions which have a powerful in
iuence on the affairs of men. These
are ambition and avarice; the love of
power and the love of money. Sepa-
rately, each of these has great force in
prompting men to action; but when
united, in view of the same object, they
have in many minds the most violent
effects. Place before the eyes of
such men post of honor, that
shall be at the same time a place
of profit, and they will move heaven
and earth to obtain it. And
of what kind are the men that will strive
for this profitable pre-eminence, through
all the hustle of cabal, the heat of con-
tentiOn, the infinite mutual abuse of par
ties, tearing to pieces the best of charac.
tiers? II will not be the wise and moder-
ate, the lovers of peace and good order,
the men fittest for the trust. 1t will be
the bold and the violent. the men of
strong passions and interchangeable ac-
tivity in their selfish pursuits. These
will thrust themselves into your govern.
ment, and be your rulers. And these,
too, will be mistaken in the expected
happiness of their situation, for their
vanquishtd competitors, of the same
spirit, and from the same motives, will
be perpetually endeavoring to distress
their administration, thwart their meas
ures, and render them odious to the peo-
pie.
90 = \ am apprehensive, there
fore, perhaps too apprehensive, that the
government of these States may in future
times end in a monarchy But this
catastrophe may, think, be long delay
ed. if in our proposed system we do not
sow the seeds of contention, faction and
tumult, by making our posts of honor
places of profits.
But alas! they have been made so, and
these words of the great doctor seem to
me eminently suggestive of the purposes
of Conkling, Malone, and their asso-
ciates, who advocate a third term for
General Grant-the first step to a kingly
government-and who seek to initiate, by
this departure from our hitherto Demo
cratic precedents, the monarchy of
which Dr. Franklin was so apprehensive.
Let the people now in the agitations of
elections think well before deciding their
political affiliations and casting their
votes, for the road downward to ruin is
easy and the return to virtue difficult
DEMOCRAT OF THE OLD SCHOOL.