Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-13
THE POLITICAL FIELD.
IT Is STEPPED IN CORRUPTION.
Republican Review Of the Repabiisss
fsry's Reserc-A ssrsns Appeal foe Rsssss
Geprrpmept

the anti Blaine Republicans. was issued
Monday. II contains the following:
we are told that The past OF that party
rs glorious, and that we retherefore bound
TO support It's candidate TO-DAY. We yield
to none In our pride at its great achieve
mcnts or in oar devotion 10 Its principles,
but when the lesson Of It's past Is forgotten
snd lis PRINCIPLES are abandoned, its name
alone cannot command our allegiance. The
question is not what The Republican party
has done, hui what 10 will do; nor what IL
was, but what IL Is; not whether Lincoln
snd Seward and Sumner and Johnson aud
Stanton and Fcssenden were great men and
leaders. but whether Blaine and Robson
snd keifera aud Elkins and CLAYTON and kel-
logg are mcn 10 whom we can safely con-
fidc The future Of our country. For many
years corruption in high Office has been
conspicuous. il has shown itself in every
cepSrimeni oi the public service. We have
seen Vic President driven into private
life by proof 81 personal dishonesty; q
Secretary OF War impeached for particIps-
lion in felony: a Secretary % the Navy
cs,arged with corrupt practices and leaving
office under cloud OF suspicion only 10 sp-
pear as Republican leader in the House Of
Representative; a Secretary OF the Interior
forced nom his Office by charges affecting
his personal and official character; an At
toiney-GenCfal compromised by evidence
IL retfy fraud. We have not forgotten
Colfax and Belkuap and Robson and Do
lano and Williams.
"In the Treasury Department we have
seen prominent officers implicated In SAN
born contracts aud suspected OF completely
in the gigantic conspiracy 10 defraud the
revenue known a. the 'whiskey ring and
the private secretary Of the President in
dic,cd % q conspiraior. while the minister
who sought TO punish the criminals was
dismissed from Office. In the Post-Oflice
Department We have seen an assistant sec
Ioiary conSpiriug with senators OF the
United sutcs in star-rOutc frauds, and the
couspirsiorS boldly defying the Govern
uent. witch was powcrlesS TO secure JUS
.lce in iis own capital city. We have seen
the last Republican Speaker diSgraced by
rroof that he had shameinly abused
his appointing power. and IN lace
a this evidence, which has destroyed
The confidence Of his constituents,
sgain the chosen candidate OF the Re-
publican patty for the same high Office.
In the SIGNAL service We have soen
superintendent, In the Treasury Depart
ueut a chiei clerk, and in other depart
ncniS trusted officers guilty OF stealing the
public money. We have seen the guilty
protected. but We have yet 10 see them
punished. We have seen the whole pa
Ionace OF the Federal Government used
openly 10 support a leader in Virginia
whose principle is reputation and whose
mCtiD1s violate every rule OF political mo-
rqliiy. We have seen the pubic business
neglected. lhe reform OF the ciVil-Service
suCcred At. and political assessments levied
in defiance 81 party promises and public
o. inicn, until the wave OF popular lndigna-
ton forced a reluctant Congress to inaugu-
rate reform. The evils OF a deba3ed cur
roucy have been disrcgTdcd; our navy is
monument q maladministraiiOn; the
surplus. with al. its temptations to cXIraya-
csnce. remains substantially undimnished.
"Fiualiy. We have seen the Republican
party relying Tor It's continuance in power
not on IL own achievements, but on the
mistakes # is opponents, and we have
seen rs leaders not seeking 10 prevent but
10 encourage these mistakes, in order that
thereby al thclr cOun.Ty's expense they
might he furnished with arguments for
Their continuance in power. We have
seen 81 tlc.e things and have been told
that the Iary must be reformed from
within: thar our remedy lay IN its caucuses
md conventions. Fer years we have
Welded 10 tli, advice, and have struggled
against the men who have sought to use
the plrty for base. personal ends. At
times we have thought them beaten, and
have hoped ihat the party, which was once
% Great, ui-ht emaucipate itself from the
cortrol 81 tie men who had degraded 1t
and r,Asscrt It's original character. In
stead. we now see these men promoted
snd their influence increased. while under
their inspiration the party turns its back
urOn tie principles. and, in place OF de-
oiaring IN clear words its policy on the
questions Of The day, by equivocal declars-
lions and Uumanly appeals TO prejudice.
seeks TO secure votes only TO perpetusts
The power % H. managers, and not 10 adj
vance The prosperity OF the country.
Its candidate for President Is man
charged with The basest OF public crimes
The abuse Of official power for his own Dc
cuniary adyantags-who for ei ghtyers has
never dared 10 demsnd that full investigs-
ton OF .he charges which his political asso-
oates would gladly have accorded, and by
which alone these charges can be met.
Upon The evidence already produced we
believe him guilty. aud we know that many
ID his prominent supporters share our be-
lief. Their declarations before his nomina-
guage IN public addresses since, are conclu-
slye evidence If tins. He Is convicted by
bis own statements OF deliberate fasehood
on The most solemn occasion. The men
who in the past have disgraced the Repub-
hcan PARTY ar united in his support, and
admitted 10 a controlling influence in the
conduct Of his campaign, while OF the hon
esi men who are joined with these the
leaders are largely either holders OF or can
didatcs for public Office, who urge their
fellow citizens 20 follow them more 10 pre-
serve the pgrty than because they approve
its chief. In tine. the Republican party has
to-day DO policy which il dares TO ay0w ana
leader whom il cannot defend. AT this
very moment u forms an alliance in West
Virginia with the advocates OF dishonest
money: 10 Washington political assess-
menis are attempted under disguise.
at is IDLE u hope that with such leader.
ship the shuscs Of the past can be corrected
or the party reformed. Under the iutiu-
ences which now dominate its councils the
tendency must be downward; and there Is
no clesrer proof that this tendency exists
than tie fact that honest men are found
ready to tolerate and excuse offences which
few wears ago would have made the Of
fender infamous. We see in Increasing
iidelity 10 party great dangers 70 our Gov
crumCnt. and il Is sn omen OF disaster when
this fidelity leads men Of character and 20.
sition to throw their influence in favor oil
dishonesty and 20 mislead their felIow-eltl.
zens BY incorporating the facts and obscu-
ring the Issue. The fascination Of the name
'Repu oilcGn' has made men blind OF OF
fences which otherwise they would con-
denim. II is our imperative duty. there
fore. to disregard the sppeals 10 party
spirit, which, In the language OF Washing
ton, il is the interest and duty OF q Wis
people 20 discourage and restrain and Il
consider how best We can stay the progress
Of corruption in the government OF on
country.
"Leaying 70 Congress the great quss
tions % policy, which must DO question:
Of legislation, and rs.erving the right Z
vote IN congressional elections for sucl
men as represent our opinion on thes
questions; intending In the State TO yot
in the future as we have in the past, we Sc
in the presidential contest a simple issue
our platform is the single principle tina
none but men OF proved integrity shoul'
be supported for public office, and tha
the use OF official power for persons
ends Is q breach OF trust which should dis
qualify for public service those who AZ
guilty Of 81. 4 party nomination whic
yiolctes this principle must not onl
forfeit our support, bu. incur on
answering opposition. by the non
ipatlon OF James e.. Blaine the Reput