Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-02-15
A Fatal Sense of Safety amp
Security.

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lulled into false sense CT security. II
the idea be INDUCED that no danger
is in prospect; or is threatening the
safety of our free institutions it is a
great aud fatal mistake. No intellio
gent observer of the course Of eventsln
this country for some years past, who
has studied the history of free govern =
meut can fail to see the danger mani
testify approaching.
When Clay and other great states
men warned the country of the dan
ger of rupture in the Union of the
States, and civil war, from the reck-
LEGS course of partisan leaders in tramp
ing upon the pledges OF the public
faith upon which the Union had been
founded, they were hooted and ridicul
ed. And not until the war actually
broke out and was upon us. did the
people really become sensible OF the
dangers of which they had been for
years warned.
Only a few months since the Pres
ident of the United States was brut.
ally assassinatcd in public thorough"
fare as a direct and undeniable result
of the "spoils system Office" and yet
when an effective remedy for this de-
grading and corrupting practice in
our political affairs is proposed in
Congress, it is ridlculed and derided
by public journals aud votares or
monarchy.
Within few years candidate for
President, undeniable elected by a
majority of the votes of the people,
was by unprecedented arrangements
cheated out Of the office, the country
brought to the very verge of civel
war, the defeated candidate actually
inaugurated and made President ofthe
United States.
The dominant political party, in order
to control the elections and perpetuate
its partisan ascendency and power.
has adopted and organized, under
color of law, system of partisan
supervisors and deputy marshals Of
elections, whose appointments and
proceedings are conducted in partisan
secresy, and paid for by the Govern
ment; whereby the elections have been
corrupted and controlled, and that
party continued in the control Of
public affairs.
The political party in power has unr
dertaken to aid in scheme of repudi
alton Of State liabilities in the Southern
States, in order to strengthen itself in
power. The decentralization of this
movement will soon spread into the
other States, and finally be extended
to The liabilities of the Federal Gov
eminent. And the rule of action of
this party, publicly proclaimed on the
floor of the United States Senate. is
chat anything is justifable in morals
and in law that will beat down the
Democratic party, and keep the Re-
publican party in power This is the
teaching of political ethics by the Re-
publican party. Everything has be-
come debased BY party ism. The
party instead of the country fills the
minds of politicians, The interests
and success Of the party, instead OF
the welfare Of the country, is the rul-
ing principle. Partyism has become
the Moloch to which the country and
and its safety are being sacrificed
Ambition, cupidity ard selhshntss
have taken the place Of patriotism,
and magnauimOus regard for jus iice,
and the rights and liberties of the
people. The unrelenting and inexor-
able partyism of the party III power
has degraded and demOralized the
political elements Of the entire coun-
try.
In view of all these matters res
ferred to, and which are in no wise
exagerated-ind not fully portray
ed, man must be purblind, or igoo-
rant of the history Of nations, who
cannot see the approaching danger 10
our country and its free Institutions
1t is simply question of time when
the conflict shall speedily adopt some
efficient and thorough measure to
arrest the manifest danger and remedy
the evil.
Judge Geddes' proposed amend
ment, by taking away from the
President the appointing power,
would accomplish much. A few
years ago Hon. M. 1. Southland inlro>
duced iuto Congress a proposition to
amend the Constitution by substitute.
ing plural Executive for the single
President. This is worthy the serious
attention of patriots and statesmen-
an. Regieter.