Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-02-07
Elevated Moral Standards.

courage, at all hazards and under all
circumstances. From the nature of the
case, he can hope to retain the conf
dence OF his readers only through a
course of persistent deception, involving
the necessity of frequent resort to
downright falsehood.
Such of our Democratic brethren as
have still some leaning toward decency,
some lingering regard for truthfulness,
have been subjected to a terrible strain
in connection with the recent perform
ance in the Ohio Legislature. They feel
called upon to MAINTAIN that perfect har-
mony which exists among tie Democ-
racy of Ohio; that the party is very
solid unit in its opposition to monopo-
lies; that "civil service reform" is dear
to the Democratic heart-even as the
apple OF its eye; and above all that brib-
cry corruption and trickery of every sort
are utterly abhorrent to the Democratic
soul, and wholly unknown in Demo-
cratic practice. How stupendous the
burden thus assumed will appear when
it is known that in the choice of Uni
ted States Senator the Ohio Democrats
engaged in a quarrel, which for bitter
ness and ferocity has seldom been
matched aaany State capital; the candi-
date of the Great Standard Oil Com
pany-foremost among monopolies-
was chosen against the judgment and
despite the wishes of the Democratic
statesmen of Ohio; Senator Pendleton,
the responsible author of the Civil Ser
vice law, was for that very reason
spurned, and kicked out of the caucus
with contempt; and finally it has been
openly and repeatedly alleged that Mr..
Payne's success was purchased with
large sums of the Standard Oil Com
pany's money. And yet, with these
facts in mind, no one will be surprised
to learn that the following specimen of
idiotic lying-clipped from q Demo-
cratic paper, fairly illustrates the man.
ner in which this outrageous proceed
ing has been treated by the press of
that party generally.
The baser part of the Republican
press is striving hard to make noise
about alleged corruption in the choice
of Hon. Henry b. Payne, by the Demo-
cratic Legislative caucus of Ohio, for
United States Senator from that State
Not word of evidence is produced to
show corruption, and the whole clamor
is simply Republican noise making.
The writer of the foregoing para
graph knew that the charges of corrup-
ton in the case came not from Republi-
cans, but from leading Democrats of
Ohio-men with National reputation,
and several of them hopeful aspirants
for the Presidency. To define the value
of Democratic literature, where par
tisan interests are involved, and to show
the character of the reform Demo-
crazy of Ohio, which takes the front in
opening the campaign of 1884, we
quote few from among many similar
expressions of Democratic newspapers
giving first place to the Louisville
Courier Journal, perhaps the most
prominent of Democratic newspapers:
Mr.. Payne's nomination is the result
of the most corrupt conspiracy ever or
ganized in this country, and was COM
passed by the most extravagant use of
money known to the legislative history
of any State in the Union.
The Washington Post says:
The defeat of Mr.. Pendleton means
that so far as the Ohio Democracy are
concerned, they have deliberately gone
back upon their reiterated pledges in
favor of Civil Service Reform.
Adding that there will be small occa-
sion for further Democratic talk about
the virtue of civil service reform for
some time to come, and advising Mr.
Payne to decline the Senatorship, as the
only honorable course open.
The Charleston News finds in the
election of Payne over Pendleton
"evideuce that the Democratic party al
heart is opposed to the reform of the
civil service. No better way can be
taken to disgust the American people
with the Democratic party"
The Buffalo Courier says the result
"puts the Ohio Democracy squarely ir
opposition to civil service REFORM
and
The Democrats of the rest of The
country may be pardoned if they come
to the conclusion that the management
of the Democracy in that state is in baC
hands, and that any hopes Of carrying
Ohio neat td0 are cain.
The Democracy of Ohio have beef
''sold out to the money power" say
the Columbus Times:
Thirty pieces of silver bought Juda
Iscariot, the arch traitor, but it cos
the Standard Oil Mclean faction mucl
larger bundle to subvert the will of tn
people.
Mr.. John Mclean (abovo alluded to
of the Cincinnati Enquirer says:
"It's money that counts for polite
nowadays, and we've got it. Wei
give the other fellows all the brains an,
handle the money. There isn't none,
enough in the State to size Payne's pill,
or to beat him."
Hon. Allen G. Thurman, the yenera
bic ex-senator, said of the affair, thai
the Democratic clock had thus 'beel
put back for years, and corruption giveI
n new leasehold in our land"
The Cincinnati Times, "heart-sore
but not Respondent" grooming in spirit
thus gives voice:
1.-The mind is staggered by the revel
alton that putrefaction could gain ;
spot to furthur rot within the Demo
cratic Party. These pernicious anC
foreign elements must be eradicated
and until they are, no Democrat ,Gil
enter the Capital Of Ohio or Of the Ma
ti0n.n
And again:
Corruption has made rotten the Dem
ocratic Legislature of Ohio. Money
has had its potency to drag honor down