Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-27


tions and during political campaigns,
which seems just now to be making
itself generally felt throughout the
country. is one of the most encouraging
signs of the times. The high-handed
and outrageous action of Kelly and Nc
Laughlin, the New York and Brooklyn
bosses. who were instrumental in hand
ing over the State of New York, and,
by that means, the country, to the con-
troll of Radicalism in 1880; the long
wears of political despotism practiced by
the Cameron bosses of the State of
Pennsylvania, and perhaps the arrogance
of various bosses in other sections Of the
country, have doubtless been the chief
cause Of the present popular rebellion
against the rule of individuals and rings
and cliques. But, whatever the cause,
the feeling of opposition certainly exists,
and is everywhere manifesting itself.
The Independent Republican movement
recently inaugurated IN the keystone
State against the presumptuous claims
of Cameronlsm has assumed formidable
proportions, and will probably result in
the defeat of the clan which has so long
carried matters with high hand in that
commonwealth, even if it does not bring
about the still more beneficial result of
enabling the Democrats to triumph. The
example thus set in Pennsylvania is
being followed in other States, and from
East to West the feeling against bossism
is being rapidly developed.
So it is with the practice of levying
corruption funds and using money with
which to- control elections. The recent
circular of Chairman Hubbell, of the
Republican Congressional Campaign
Committee, calling upon every Federal
Office holder in the Union to contribute
a certain percentage Of his salary for
keeping the Democrats from power. has
excited formidable opposition, and in
quarters too where it was least
expected, viz: in the ranks of the
Republican party itself. Mr.. George
William Curtis is Republican of promi-
nence of New York, but he has already
taken steps to contest in the courts the
legality of thus raising corruption funds
for political purposes, and there are
thousands of others, Republicans like
him, who are becoming thoroughly dis
gusted with the custom. In olden days,
when Grantism was the synonym for
Radicalism, corruption in every shape
was the guiding principle of the party in
power. But now not only have the
denominations which resulted from
this condition of affairs begun to
excite their legitimate disgust in the
minds of all men of even ordinary re-
spectability, but the party itself is now
divided into two factions, and "half
breed Republican feels no desire to con-
tribute of his often time scantY pay TO
keep a "stalwart' in office, and rice rersd.
For these reasons mainly it is that so
much opposition is being manifested
against the use Of money at the polls,
and this feeling, too, is confined to no
section. Mr.. Curtis action in New York
meets with response from California,
and it is stated that one of the most
prominent features in the approaching
campaign in that State will be oppcsi-
ton to this form of bribery and corrur-
/ ton.
We repeat, then, that this is one of
the most encouraging signs of the times,
and it is to be hoped the reform thus
begun will progress until popular senti-
ment is thoroughly revolutionized. For
two decades the country has been so sub
iected to evil influences that the name
American citizen" has almost become
by-word and synonym of rascality. Cor
rupting influences have become so much
part of the government that the people,
long since familiar with them, have
begun to look upon them as matters
of course, and practices have been
quietly permitted, year after year, which
would have excited a storm of honest
indignation in the older and better days
Of the Republic. Present indications of
a return to these better days may prove
to be only squirt of virtue. Neverthe-
less, the fact that disposition to oppose
dishonesty in the conduct of our cleo
tons, and to re-estabhsh the
purity of the ballot box, can
make Roadway at all, shows that the
country is not vet wholly demoraliged,
and that there still exists little leaven
of virtue in the land which may eventu-
ally leaven the whole lump. When that
is brought about it is needless to say
that Radicalism will speedily become
thing ofsthe past, and our American
Republic will once more occupy her
former enviable position among the gov
ernments of the world
The Committee on Ways and Means