The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-05-15
The Moral Col. Sweeney.


lustrious WIN. NJ. Tweed.
The Moral Col. Sweeney.
Congressman Sweeney Of the Fourth
district of this state, although not yet
two years a member Of the house, has
done something that will result in
giving him large and comfortable
niche in the temple Of fame; and es-
pecially will he be remembered after
life's fitful fever is over" by the moral
and pure minded people Of the en-
tire universe. He has done some
thing which will fill an aching void
in the moral desert of the age. In
order to reform the people of this
country he has introduced q bill
which provides for the exclusion from
the mails of '.any pamphlet, maya
zine, newspaper, story paper or other
paper devoted to the publication, or
principally made upof criminal news,
police reports or accounts Of criminal
deeds or pictures, and stories Of inn
moral deeds, lust, or crime
Under such bill it would be with
in the power of any politician in the
postoffice department to stop the cir
culation of any newspaper Of the OPP
posing party, All that would be nee
essary would be to find in the paper
q report of some crime or some i'm
moral deed. and then its exclusion
from the mails would be enforced.
No matter what the general character
of the paper, it would be at the mer-
cy of hostile officials. The New York
Tribune and the New York Herald,
two journals OF opposite politics
against which no honest or intelli.
gent objection could be raised under
this head. would be alike subject to
interference and punishment should
this bill become a law.
II any newspaper offend against
public morality let it be dealt with
by the regular criminal authorities
and the courts Of the country. tt
convert the postofIice into an extra.
ordinary tribunal for such a purpose,
and to make every little postmaster .
Judge to suppress the liberty Of print
ing. which the constitution guaran
tees, is an intolerable proposition
The tendency of the republican par
ty, OF which Col. Sweeney is not q
very brilliant member, is too much In
the direction of not only ''paternar
bu strong centralized govern
ment.' The bill has the approval o.
two eminent and very pious gentle
Benjamin Harrison and Johr
Wanamaker, both of whom are in tn,
habit of shedding copious tears which
leave their salty stains on theil
cheeks whenever they read in a news
paper the account Of q criminal deed
And it is said Of them that they hav,
been weeping and refuse to be com
forted because the criminal doings o
one Matt. Quay have been published
by the unrighteous newspapers; ant
it made them roar in anguish whel
they read of the conspiracy entere,
into by the present head of the mai
department and the protected manu-
facturers, the result Of which wa
the raising of a fund to corrupt voters
All this made them feel very bad in
deed. The republican party as ",
are told by Bulldozer Reed, think
that the people of the states are no
able to manage their own congrei
sional elections and consequently
they have decided to pass a nations
election law, which will virtually Civ
United States marshals aud super
visors the power to elect congressman
The law is aimed practically at tn
southern states, although its appl
cation is supposed to be nationa.
The republican party in its desire 10
''strong government" is usurpin
the powers and functions of tn
states under the guise of doing some
thing for the benefit OF the people.
The present congress is not legisla,
ing in order to promote the interes
OF the country but to promote thos
of its party. 1t is doing that whic
is in the interest Of the monopolist
and detrimental to the interests {
the people. But it will realize at til
next presidential election that til
people are still the sovereign powe
in this country, and that they hay
no respect either for ''paternar' 4
''strong centralized governments. -
Dubuque Telegraph.