Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-06-14
POLITICAL DEBAUCHERY.
The Publication of Our Social and Politi-
cal Systems a CRYING Necessity.


The 0rovilie Mercury auimadverts as fol-
lows on the suicide OF the Clerk of Butte
county. 1t is a just and not oyerdrawn es-
innate of well-known and growing evils,
which unhappily are not at all confined to
the county in which the victim referred to
was an official.
The career and end of Frank A. Peachy
afford thought for an article as long ss
telegraph pole. His corpse is to-dsy a
terrible and concentrated illustration of the
absolute rottenness of the political system
in Butte, with its collateral qualifications.
The diabciical custom of treating is the
great battery from which extend the politi-
cal wires by which conventions and CAM
paigns are "run in Butte None but gold
and silver metal can supply the force for
the successful operation Of these wires.
| The man who, with the most reckless dis
regard of his own interests, can supply this
battery with motive power, is the one to
succeed in his political aspirations: The
more open-hearted, generous and charlta-
BILE the man, the more certain he is to be
selected as the man TO supply the coin fol
1.-THE damnable working of these political
wires. For several years Peachy has sup
piled all that he could earn-from one
thousand to three thousand year. and all
that he could borrow from his many
friends, who were, unfortunately for ali
ever willing to lend. Peachy, though mos
culpable, is not wholly TO blame for the
prodigality of his life. The system OF cam
paigning, which encourages, in fact neces
States, a campaign of debauch, is equally
TO blame. 1t is entirely iniquitouS. Both
parties nominate their candidates, and the
grand carnival is inaugurated with bras;
bands, bonfires ana a most ingloriou:
drunk. The majority in Butte is never
large for either side. The impression pre-
walls, and experience has demonstrated ii:
correctness, that the candidate who car
drink the most liquor, tell the largest num-
Der of smutty anecdotes, gin up the largest
number of drunks and in word, become
the boss bacchanalian brute, is the sures
to win. This is vicious. We have ambi
tons. We once tried to go to the Legisla
ture, and failed for the want of money
We would like TO progress in the 20
litical world until we could, by ar
honorable career, occupy a seat in tht
United States Senate, which we would
not exchange for deed to the best forty
acre lot in heaven But before we would
| honeyfuddle the voters, put up primaries
buy delegates-with whiskey or money
lick the feet of beer-guzziers and kneel t
bar-room politicians, we would see the
country damned If halt isn't called
we shall all be damned finally, and thu
sooner the better. When a man gets into
a county office if he isn't a true man, hi
finds himself in a whirlpool-a perfec
suck-hole of expense, which drains hi!
purse, starves his family, ruins his credi
and ends his career either in poverty, in /;
foreign cline, or in the grave of suicide
Dt,f+ \,
show for their highly-paid labors. Ou
social and political systems are fostering
carcasses, and it remains for The people t
purify them by infusing principle, purity
truth and other God-given qualities tina
combine to make the true man.
Peachy was a good-hearted man, will
noble instincts at first, but these system!
have comprised his everlasting ruin. 1t i
doing likewise for others.