The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-08-14
The Only True Reform.
Cincinnati News.


While Judge Foreker devotes himself
to q harmless rehashing Of the tariff
speeches OF 1880. he has no, get entered
upon discus.i n OF IN issue which he
will find occup lag q foremost place in
this canvass. There 10 popular deter
minstion to pnt On end to rings of COR
tract ,rs and others having money in
terest in administration snd 10 rings OF
hoss po iticians In politics and elect 'ons.
The very manner In ". ich the repub
licans avid this suhj ct sh"ws how
clearly they understand that it is death
to their hops to discuss it. With each
new elec'ion the republican party fails
unier the domination of some nalgn
influence worse than the Last.
In 1858 it was the politicians and the
money rings horn In the war who could
not control Andrew johnson; in 1872
1t was the rings OF various kinds, form
ed out Of the elements which had sue
ceeded in 1868. whisky rings, post ira
dership rings, custom house rings, snh
one ring and another; in 1875. taught
nv exposure to he more careful, there
was new deal and new and nnkno wn
man. under whose admiuistra i'm, cut
OF the old elements. grew the star route
ring; in 1880, again, there was new
deal, hut division in the party brought
| to light the fact Of the control OF the
party and of the candidates by the at; r
ronte ring which grew mp under Hayes.
Now We are told nv the Ohio organ
that the Oain qlec'in is of far more
than local Importance. So it Ia, ami We
| find that the old bosses and mach me
politicians have pooled their ssues and
tnomiBated voung man, upknewn and
naxDeiienced, Of. respectable private
/ He. and moderate. hut rssprctahl ahili31
tiles, hehind whom they are u.iny all
their strengths to win popular approval
Soon or late. there ran he hnt oneNnd
to sll this. The only cure il. in a thor.
opgh and overwhelming 'deieat OF the
asrlv. which IL go riny.ridden, 90 ruled
nv infaencss tavrrshle t., monopoly,
Corruption. and hossism in politcs that
it can provi ie no honest simiais, rati,n.
Is thousands Of honest v ,tars may toll
and struggle and dream Of reform as
they will; 40 long o. they are 10 the
background and the political and other
rings In the foreground there can he no
reform. These mali IN inhnnc g nsed 3
blunt and personally honest soldin,
during two terms. and what vert on
under his adm,ni,tra,ion and b.ii d
him everybody kno~s. while all unite in
relieving him of personas connection
with rings and cnrrurtion. In 1876
they used for their purposes q negative
| msn every wsv suited to their ends, not
personally dishonest. hut lacking insight,
energy, nr disposition to i'qaire and
courage to rebuke, and hampered by
the means of his own elevation, 80 th.t
he dared not rehnke others. In 1886
they succeeded in winding their coils
about man Of many lofty and .eener.
Qua impulses. who. perhaps. never thor
nughlv undarstnod what was coiled
shoni lin until aiter his election, ard
p"rhsps. never 6id fully comprehend
the full force Of the evil powers to which
he owed hIs election. So il will 90 on
until the party which ia rulei by such
influences l. thoroughly brokec.
When they appear mot to have rrtir.
ed, when the rings, hosses. and machine
leaders most advertise themselve. az in |
The background. thep are most surel,
plotting renewal Of their power. Ir
Ohio thev have aiken refuge hehind
Young man. on whose account they sp-
neal 10 the patriotic instinct. They al
ways masquerade under aome high pnr-
pose nr noble santim"nt Behind them
and hevond Ohio all the old politicians
rings, all the machine managers, all the
hroeds OF rings AMI monopolies are pre-
pared to lend aid in furtherance of the |
common cause. That monev has been
suhscrihels for "the legitimate .expersssI
of the campaign" is woll known The
exact amount is not known l. took
according to Dorsey, about $410, zoo to
meet Legitimate demands in Indiana in
1880 What the es,imate Tor this year
Is We do not know precisely.
1t Is time for the horest men of all
parties TO strip off the mask and admin
is'er q thorough defeat ID psrtv which
masqnersdes t".dav b"hind a hluff old
soldier, to.morrow behind passive fig
ure-head next dsv behind man OF gen
e'ous and generally good impnlses, hut
with little knowledge Of prac,ic.l life.
always cloaking the purposes Of its con.
trolling rings and bosses with some NO.
HE sentiment o, patriotic purpose, Tn,
NON ination OF Judge Foraker was made
With view to On appeal to The people
The ringmasters have but stopped t.
corqner.