The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-06-07
THE DECAY oE PATRIOTISM.

United States at present, seemingly
all-pervading, saying substantially,
among other things, that fitness for
office is no longer taken into consid-
Grafton; that the ability OF a, B or
G to carry this, that or the other
state is the first qualification as to
the individual, and the success of
the pal ty nominating him the chief
element in the platform. The HER
AID is always willing to acknowl-
edge honesty and truthfullnesS, no
matter if they come from a source
which, apart from MISUNDERSTOOD
principles, would make their cor
dial and unquestioned reception
somewhat doubtful; and in this in
stance, We take all the more pleas
ure in scoring one for the cause Of
political probity and decency be
cause the efforts in that direction
come from so unexpected place.
Politics in the United States is
not an exposition Of the varying
sentiments of the people having a
common object in the furtherance
of republican institutions and the
welfare of the nation generally; it
is system of spoils and plander-
kind of legalized brigandage and
recognized fortune-hunting = a
search for place and power in
which ability and honesty are over
looked in the demoraliziDg search
for availability and popularity. 1t
is not the case as rule that because
man is nominated for an Office he
is the best selection from the ranks
of the organization presenting him
that could be made; it is the case
in the majority OF instances that he
is able to control a certain number
of easily acquired votes, is a pet of
the 'heelers," and knows how to
work his little peculiar and practi-
cal tact."
Under such circumstances it is
not to be wondered at that unim-
portant men get into important
places; that politicians whose prin-
cipal value is the vote they are able
to cast for their party, are promoted
from one position to another simply |
because they act the part of a super
in a theatrical procession,
Or that of picture in panel
visibly complete what
would otherwise be incomplete. 1t
makes but little difference what |
they do or how it is done SO long as
the party's interests are maintained
so long as the pipes are placed in
position and everything made Sc
cure for the powers that be.
A more complete illustration of
the absolute lack of efficacy and
scope in our political system
was never presented than when
J. Tilden, a candidate for
President who received an over
majority of both the
popular and electoral vote of the
90 untry, was deliberately and
beyond the hope Of appeal defeated
oy a set of NANCY politicians, the
eader of whom was a man diseased
n mind, body and morals; it was
even pretended that TiIden
vas not the choice of the majority.
)ut it was held by the dastardly
strikers and traders who defeated
lin that he mrst keep outbecause,it
would be unsafe for them to let him
n. Four years later the party
which defeated him did the same
hing for Hancock by making one
# the most disgraceful bargains
With one of the most dishonorabIe
political leaders that ever disgraced
New York or any other
tate, aided in great part
y union with an open and
vowed repudiationist in the south
a "brigadier," a democrat,
n enemy to public credit, opposed
o almost everything which the
,arty that overcame Tilden and
Hancock had for years presented to
he people as their special and alto
,ether distinctive features! And
What was gained? La the first in
lance, a statesman and lawyer of
rand achievements and great ex-
in the other true and
ried soldier and patriot was over
brown to make a place on one
land for the most complete thing
4 the way of a political pigmy that
,yer disgraced a public position;
md on the other, to secure the cleo
ion of a man whom not even the
lorrors of his vile assassination