Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-24
The Public Conscieuce Touched.

The Public Conscience IOuched.
/ Waving any question as to the SINGER
ity of the founders of Radicalism, it is
certain that the party grew by accretions
from the marplots, malcontents and the
disaffected until, having enlisted within
its ranks the political free lances of the
land, it was enabled by the divisions of
its opponents to seize hold upon power.
Thenceforward its main capital was its
war record cant, by which it deceived
thousands of intelligent citizens into
yielding it support. And from the close
of the war down to the present time the
Radical leaders, relying upon the strength
of this same "war record" have ignored
the limits set to their projects by
the organic law of the land, and
have used all the means that cunning
and recklessness could suggest to fur
ther their ends.
From 1865 to 1878, their tYrannical
and corrupt practices were winked at,
but the excuses of Grantism and the
great financial revulsion that followed
the saturnalia of initiation, hurled the
cohorts of Radicalism from power. The
brief period of Democratic ascendancy
that succeeded the change in public SEN
timent was marked by retrenchment
doubly grateful to a country suffering the
hardships of financial depression, and
the native pluck of the people soon
brought about a return of prosperity.
But with it also came opportunities that
Radicalism was quick to profit by. The
changes in our financial condition en-
abled that party to bid anew for the
favor and support of its old allies-the
benefciaries of its special legislation
and by prodigiOus use of its old
methods it bought itself again into
power. There it has remained since,
and there it would, in all likelihood,
have continued till another industrial
crisis, had it not become torn to pieces
by internal wrangles over the spoils of
Office.
The crack of Guiteau's pistol, how
ever, aroused thinking people to the Re
public's peril, but the hackers of the
Radical machine were blind. Bossism
in its worst form manifested itself, and
the majority in Congress last winter con-
stituted itself band of pirates, organ
lied solely to rake the Treasury.
Brought to account, the bosses have
grown defiant and now stake all on the
power of "the machine. )"
To compass their ends, they have set
up henchmen of their own wherever
possible, and avow their purpose to buy
a continuance Of their control of affairs.
The employees of the government
are mulcted for the sup
port of the central aud
the local machines; the benefciaries of
Radical special legislation are bled for
the same purpose, and relying on the
power of corruption funds, the right
thinking citizens of the land are openly
defed. True, the stern rebuke that
comes from Ohio alarms the stalwart
managers somewhat, but does not cause
them to relax their energies. the cries for
money to corrupt the ballot box steadily
grow louder and more urgent, and even
the Secretary of the Treasury, to further
his cause in New York, stoops to the
meanest articles of the demagogue to
alarm the masses by willful perversion
of facts.
But stalwartism is the last and the
meanest phase of Radicalism, and so
disgusting and CALLING is it that thou
sands of Republicans are ready to repu-
date it and are prepared to rebuke it,
regardless of the consequences to them
selves and party. Indeed, they have
but two choices-to serve as tools to
| further the ends of the bosses, or to rise
up and crush them. The favorite motto
of the bosses has always been latter us,
the deluge." The deluge is indeed at
hand, but it is not as the reckless spoils-
men pictured it. 1t is deluge of public
opinion that will overwhelm those who
have set it at naught, but which, when
its force is spent, will leave the social
atmosphere freed from the impurities
that for so many years have poisoned
the body polite AS Senator Bayard
truly says, "the public conscience has
been touched" and in its workings are
to be found the harbingers of season
of reform in which may be sown
the seeds of honesty, patriotism and
regard for justice. That the harvest may
be plenteous, should be the hope of all
who value the well being of the Repub-
1 liz