Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-08-28
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Rpadinsttng POLITICIANS.
The lagIsatIve committee that has
been investigating the collapse OF bank
In Petersburg that was custodian OF the
funds Of the state, finds That the people |
To whom The banks money was loaned |
on insufficient security were prominent
members Of the Readius.er party OF the
state, which has had control of the state
government and whose kindness gave
the bank the state funds to keep. over a
hundred thousand dollars was taken from
the bank by over drafts Of such deposi-
tors, beside the regular loans they or
tained. Senator Malone figures in the
list, and so does Governor Cameron. The
senator and governor have since paid up
their over drafts, but the governor owes
notes for some thirty thousand dollars
insuai,iently secured by his collateral.
Aud 1t is intimatet that the balance is
uncollectable.
The particular interest which these
disclosures have to tue general pubic
is in illustrating the vast difference
between the profession and practice OF
pfllblClduSE ~ 10 ~ hNN"''N 49,
ference in the average man; but the
politician who set up for u statesman
and whose business 1t is TO persuade the
people that he loves the country as he
does himself, and that his doctrines are
the true doctrines to lead 1t to prosper
ity, one would think would feel especially
warned that to plant his feet upon rock
he must not let the people see that he is
only talking for effect and really does not
believe what he says and does not eX
emplty it in his practice. 1t is nota-
BILE thing, however, that this is just
what most politicians do not conceal
aud the obvious reason is that
they cannot. The only aim they
have in their political action is a selfish
one. They start out to help themselves to
honors and profit by the aid of the good
people. To get along it is absolutely
necessary to profess supreme devotion to
thu interests OF the people; but to get
what they want for themselves at the
same time, it is often necessary, they
think, to let the interest OF the state slide
as quietly as they can. They are always
ready to take care of the state and them
selves, according to the best of theiI
ability but when their own interests anC
those of the country do not seem to rur
together, it is bad for the country, which
they can only prefer to themselves il
their words.
This Rsadjuster party in Virginia ha
had, as its only foundation, the demand
that the state shall not pay its debt &C
cording to its bond. They persuaded tn
people that they could not afford to d
it, and ought not to do it. And whe
they have the people thus persuaded an
have attained power, on the popular issu
of reputation, disguised under le
ugly name, they deliberately use u
power they have gained to get into the
possession, for their own use, the none
of the state, that they have saved froI
its creditors; and when they fiud then
selves unable TO return it, disguise thei
robbery under the sweeter name Of
loan. But the people are out Of thei
money a.j the same and they are out c
IL because they put IL in the power o
these men 10 borrow II. Their cash ha
gone and their Cr,d t has gone; an
they are left nnArGN a',uo with the
readlusted Teadius D.. .., md dUubtlrs
feel cold and may p..rh.nce be taugN
that when they reaG. .-. In future the
should be careful to sc-utin.zs the qua,
ty Ct their TeadjusteTs.
The country at larp- may learn a les
son from Virginia t. guide it in IN
presidential campaigp. Mr.. Blaine IS
readjuster. He adjusts hIs views on th
affairs OF state to suit his interests
and readjusts them every time his inter
ests seem TO require IL. This i
public record proves to any intellger
reader. 50 does Butler. lie change
as the Kaleidoscope. Both these mt
have been connected with corporation
all their lives, and both now clam tina
they never sleep on anything but a stra,
palliasse, under workingman's roo
They lie conspicuOusly; and If the peopl
trust them, they deserve to be readjuste
out OF every thing they have.