The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-09-06
.whither are we Drifting."

#L E
lidates to secure their nomination, 8
md the surface indications already S
what will be the "potent argu- a
rent" to put them into the offices, d
should awaken every honest voter to S
ask himself"wtither are we drifting" t
and to reflect seriously upon the duty s
of casting his ballot. Public Offices {
Of all kinds have come to be disposed
of by public auction as they were i:
the vilest days of the Caesars, when
that great and historic empire was
rapidly tottering to its fall by the
weight and enormity of its W cor
ruption and debauchery. In major
ity counties all offices seem now
to be knocked down to the highest
bidder, or in the beautiful language
of Dorsey, to the man who a fur
nish the most "soap." If there is one
danger ahead more threatening to
the life of free institutions than an
othe-, it is this gross corruption In
the disposition of public trusts.
There is no palliation for this great
crime against representative govern
ment. 1t will gnaw into the vitals
of public prosperity and destroy all
hopes of honest administration as
certainly as it has always done in the
history of the past. 1t is therefore
the solemn duty of every voter in
this county to denouuce and defeat,
by every means which God and Nat
IRE have put in his power, oil candi-
dates who have obtained their nomi-
nations by the use of money and
fraud and corrupt combination. 1t
has come squarely to this in major
ity or close counties, that q little CO.
terie of political tricksters combine
on the candidates who a contribute
the most "swag" for corruption, and
there is no use for any n outside of
this gang trying to make nomina-
ton. Is it not so at present in this
county? All the nominations are
fixed in advance and the voters have
nothing on earth to do but to ratify
the action of the clique and these
soulless and selfish conspirators
against honest elections. There is one
aspect in which this modern method
in politics seriously affects the very
best men in this and every other COM
munity. If the ring system Of max
ing nominations by money and cor
ruption and combinations is to be
t continued and endorsed, every poor
man, no matter how worthy OR well
qualified, or how much entitled by
long service to the party, may as wei
e abandon all his hopes and ambitions
of ever filling any place of public
q trust and emolument. There is nc
possibility of any young man with
out means ever getting a nomination
;, if the present practices are MAINTAIN
ed and countenanced by the voters
What reason is there then why AM
honest man who ever expects to ruI
for Office without the use of money
should build an impossible barrie
against himself by voting for ant
supporting the creatures of the RIM
i whose elevation will only make i
c more powerful and arrogant ant
forge the letters of its victims tight
err? Self preservation, which is tn
first law of nature, demands that al
respectable and deserving citizens
whose only fortunes are their brain
and hands, should strike dowh tn
: conspirators who are determined t
make money the only stepping ston
le to offices and honor. In the interes
J. of the people; in the interests c
IT honest representation and efficien
public service and in the interests G
struggling and energetic young mel
IS who are without means, but with a
IL the rights of freemen to fill the office
TT in a free government, all honorabl
men should demand that the too
of corrupt politicians and corruI
= political combinations should be d,
cisively condemned and utterly owe
thrown at the polls whether in th
Republican or the Democratic part,
er