The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-02-08

the calls made upon them and at the
same time learn the details of our Gov
ernment. or of the abuses which grow
up. The fourth body is the s.lobby,
rapidly increasing in numt ers. who hold
Their places for life. Many of them
make their homes in Washington; they
alone are ia niliar with affairs, and ac-
quainted with the clerks and others who
fill the departments. These are the men
who, in the language of the late MEM
ber of the Cabinet already quotei, are
.produc ng aspirations and interests so
powe6ul AMI complicated irtheirnature
and so constantly appealing to the Gov
ernment, rightfully or wrongful ly, that
the requirements of craftsmanship are
far different from those which su Feed a
century ago"
Republican journals have made it
known throughout the land that th:s last
named organization is so potent that it
defies the Government in its own
courts by the aid of its own agents.
These facts have aroused the attention
of patriotic Republicans. who find that
they are the results of their own doc
trine of centrali alton. The fruit of
Capitalization is foun to be system
of temptations which will grow worse
as or population. increases in number
and wealth. In less than thirty years
this country will contain 100000, 600 of
souls. Its income will grow still more
rapidly. The amount or money in the
hands of Congress to be given away for
all sorts of OBJ ,ects will, as past expert
ence shows, in rease in fourfoli ratio.
1t is this feeling which has produced
the politi results of the year 1882.
1t has burst the strong bonds which held
together the Republican organization.
A party which has doubts about the cor
rectness of its views loses the power to
adjust its controversies. Should they
be adjusted the tap of the drum will not
cal back citizens to its ranks. say
this. not because would throw dis
credit upon the Republican party; on
the contrary, the sentiments which
govern large numbers of its members
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 Capitalization have fostered
serpents' eggs where they were expected
to give strength to our Union. We have
reports of corruptions 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 collection and
use of political assessments, which
Congressmen claim they have right TO
make, while they punish as crime such
acts by other officials. Other depart
ments, where there are greater tempta-
tions, are yet to be looked into.
The circumstances of the elections
diffe ed in the several States. The
character of the nominations bad the
usual influence Whatever difference
there may have been as to harmony OIL
strife in the ranks of parties, all were
: overborne by the feeling in the mind
of thoughtful, calm and patriotic Re
! p.blicans that they had drifted intt
errors under the influence of passions
infiamed by civil war. And this has
been confirmed by every days reports
of judicial proceedings where the Gov
eminent has been ba fed in its effort tt
punish wrong doers, in many instances
by the corruption of its own agents
All feel that in the near future. wher
! our population shall be 100, ,00c. 600
our Government cannot go on unless il
] ret rnsto the constitutional policy o.
our fathers.
IF, in the opinion of the people. the
distribution or modification of the con
stitutional powers be, in any particular,
wrong, let it be corrected by an amend
: ment in the way the Constitution
, designates. But let there be no change
! by usurpation; for though this, in one
instance may be the instrument OF
good, it is the customary weapon by
l which free governments are destroyed
II precedent must always greatly over.
7 balance, in permanent evil, any. partia
+ or transient benefit which the use can a
any time yield. ."-Horatio Seymour. IN
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