Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-02-16
The Political Situation.

Though ripe in years and not over
firm of body, Horatio Seymour is
still clear and strong in his intellect, and
every inch political sage. When he
speaks men pause to listen. When he
writes they linger to read, for his words
are words of wisdom, and we know of
no man in public life. or who has been
in public life within the memory of this
generation. deserving the confidence
and generation of the student of polite
al principles. and the searcher after
political truth to greater extent than
he. He has contributed paper to the
North american ReUiesU uron the snb-
ject that forms the heading of this
article. Hon. George S. Boutwell, is
also represented by an article upon the
same subject, but Horatio Seymour can
be studied long time and the student
will feel little curiosity or longing to
know what the opinions of George S.
Boutwell, may be. Mr.. Seymour fol-
lows the history of public sentiment and
legislation along the eccentric lines they
have Travelled sin e the close of the war
the reaction from the extreme and
costly view of State rights maintained by
the South for purpose, and the growth
OF that centralizing spirit in which
have developed all forms of corruption.
Since Capitalization became so in
trenched the lobby has grown supreme,
and agents OF corruption, stronger than
Presidents and.Senators and Congress
men, have established them elves at the
capital, and because of their superior
knowledge of people and the general
machinery of operation, have become
the real rulers of the people and dis
tributors of the taxes that they pay.
Mr.. Seymour takes no partisan view of
all this. He gives honest and thought.
full Republicans credit for a desire to
emancipate themselves from the results
of their own party teachings This
feeling, he thinks. accounts for the re-
suit at the last election. and the writer
says: "It has. burst the strong bond
which held together the Republican or
ganization. A party which has doubts
about the correctness of its views loses
the power to adjust its controversies.
Should they be adjusted the tap of the
drum will not cal citizens back to it's
ranks. say this, not bee luse would
throw discredit upon the Republican
party; on the contrary, the sentiments
which govern large numbers of its men,
bers are patriotic and honorable. as are
their efforts to check abuses which have
grown out of mistaken views of policy.
1t would be an insult to say that they
were governed by their passions or per-
sonal interest. No; the results of the
election OF 1882 were not due to local
causes or controversies. They were
the product of general belief that the
doctrines of centrali alton have fostered
serpent's eggs where they were expect
ed to give strength to our Union. We
have reports of corruption not only in
the post Office. in the signal service, and
in the police force designed TO protect
the property OF the public from wrongs
and robberies. but also in the use and
collection of political assessments, which
Congressman claim they have right to
make, while they punish as crimes Oh
acts by other officials. Other depart
ments. where there are greater tempta-
lions, are yet to be looked into.'' Per-
haps Mr.. Seymour. more clearly than
anv one else who has yet analysed the
situation. emphasizes the fact that the
reaction has actually set in and must
continue. We do not doubt that he is
right. Boston statesman.