The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-24
Tie Real Issues Before the Counry.

Tie Real Issues Before the Counry.
As the Presidential election approach
es it is most important to understand
the actual issues involved, which the
people haVe to decide. A comprehen-
sve and accurate view OF them grows
in interest and importance.
First. The first question which arises
is whether the welfare and best inter-
ests of the country do not re .uire a
change of party IN -power.-sSWhen one
party is continued in power too long 1t
becomes corrupt. arrogant and wanton
in abuses and evil practices in the pub
lie service. and regardless OF the rights
and interests of the-peopie. The history
of all governments show this. Let the
books of the government be looked into
byia new set of men. Let abuses and
frauds be exposed and corrected. II the
party that comes iuto power does not do
right and prove faithful it will doubtless
be turned out at the end of four years
Let us have change. The present
party has been already too long in
power. Twentv-four years is too long
for one set of men to control the power
and affairs of the people unless our Gov
ernment is to be changed and offices
are to be for life, and one dynasty of
men is to be made perpetual without
change or reform. If the people are
capable of preserving their free lnstitu-
tons and maintaining ther liberties and
their rights they VIII demand change.
Let the change come; let it be tried for
, time at least. Wisdom, good sense.
md common honesty on the part Of the
people, as we'll as Ldelity to themselves
and their country re luire 1t. This IS
the first issue.
Second Are the abuses and evil
practices of the party in power TO be
approved and sanctioned by the people?
The Star-route swindle and the Star
route trial stand to day as the most
re ent practical demonstrations of the
necessity of change. But this is but
one of thousand of such things. This
happened to crop out from intestine
variances In the party, like the sale of
the trading-stations by Belknap as
Secretary of War; the whiskey-ring
frauds, the Credit Mobiler bribery
and swindle. But hundreds of others
doubtless exist which have not been
brought before the gaze of the world.
Reform and change of party are i'm
peratively demanded.
Third. Every department of the
Government has deteriorated and be-
come corrupted by the long continuance
of this party in power. Even the Su-
preme Court of the United States has
become so far partisanized as to de-
clare in a recent decision that the
standard of value of the commercial
world IS not by our Constitution made
basis of our money system. This
sweeps away at once the foundation o
our financial system, and of the credit
and chara ter of our Government at
home and abroad, and subjects the
country hereafter to the deplorable
evils of an irredeemable paper none J
| system.
! Fourth. The rights and interests o
the citizens of the United States are no
protected against foreign nations. Th'
State Department is filled with com
plants of wrongs, depredations and out
RACES committed upon American ii
zens by forcing Governments, to whicl
no attention whatsoever is given. Th'
lOIcl0u lt-SdJIO1S LdfC OtC OoA ohO NOAA
troll of the State Department under in
functions of mock secrecy, and Ameri
can citi i<ens are denied even semblanc'
Oh ustice in an appeal for protection
against wrongs and depreciation
from foreign nations. And the mos
solemn ad Indications on full hearing o
both parties, under treaties in favo
of American citizens against foreign
governments, are repudlated and Sc
aside upon mere ex parte and irreSpon
sible statements made in secrecy by thu
emissaries OF the foreign powers. Fail
and impartial Justice to American citi
zens against foreign powers requires ;
change of men in power.
| Fl tn. The party in power has will
reckless extravaganza increased the ne
ordinary annual expenses of the Gov
ernment from about sixty, million dol
lars in 1860, the last year of Demo
cratic administration, to near thre
hund ed millions year, together wit
a collection from the people of over
: hundred million dollars more than
needed to pay the public expenditures
Sixth. The chief end and aim of tn
party in power is to enlarge the opera
tions and expenditures of the Fedora
Government, in order to centralize q
power in it, and wholly absorb th
powers of the States, and reduce then
to the condition of mere subordinat
departments.-American Register.