Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1890-08-08

accepted fact that the republican party
approves, permits, endorses and relies on
political corruption for its success; that
it casts away the decalogue and the
golden rule and seeks only to cxpei lis
opponent to acquire power and win sue
cess at whatever sacrifice OF principle or
manhootl-let this idea become prevalent
throughout the land and its supremacy
will soon be at an end.
More than any other in our political
history the republican party has depend
ed for its success npon its appeal to the
higher impulses of human nature. Its
boasts have been that its aim was not
power or plumber. but justice. equity, the
highest good of the greatest number of
people. 1t has not defined government
as mere power, but as the deliberate, I'M
trammeled will of the people wrought
out by fit and proper instruments. In
der this banner it has fought its battles:
in this sign it has conquered. Party has
never until recently been its watchword,
but principle has been its constant shib-
bOleth. The republican voter-the hon
est. intelligent man who cares nothing
for the spoils, but much for the moral
idea his party represents-ha always
constituted the rank and file of the party;
but such declarations as those of Mr..
Ingalls, are we'll calculated to weaken
his faith and lead him to become a mer-
cenary rather than to follow 1.-THE desul-
tory sentimentalism of epiccnes, IfMr.
ingalls, brilliant phrases mean anything.
it Is that principle and honor and purity
arc out of place in all political struggles:
that party is above country, and pclf
above party. 1t is the lowest possible
ideal of political ethics. 1t is the theo-
ry of Tammany Hall woven into figures
of tawdry filigree. 1t Is definition Of
corruption. 1t would make every voter
mercenary, and every candidate pau
per- If the farmers of Kansas accept
MI. ingalls, theory of a political cam
paign, they will offer their votes to the
highes: bidder. for if 1t is HONORABLE ia
buy it cannot be dIshonorable to sell,
1t is especially unfortunate at this
time, when so many believe that money
is the prevailing power in politics.. that
leader of such eminence in politics,
should haVe given such unmistakable
coirobO.atins evidence upon that sub
ject. The time has not yet come when
the American people are willing to alb
dictate their power, authorize or sanction
the doctrine that political campaign
is simply question as
to which political party has the longest
purse or that corruption is the most ad
mirable form OF patriotism Neither
has the time como when it is necessary
to aver the corruption of the whole par
ty, the utter debasement of the national
conscience, in order 70 excuse the short
comings Of'any one man. The deca-
logue and the golden rule may ''have
no place in politics but whenever the
republican party fails to plant itself
squarely On the principles underlying
both, 1t viii! lose its grip On that great
body Of intelligent voters who constitute
its real strength. 1t may corrupt the en-
emies ''mercenarics' if need be. but when
it comes to rely on ''Hessians," and JUS
tify their use, patriots will refuse to an
swer to its call. and aid it to acquire
power or dispense plumber. If the sena-
tor seeks TO destroy his party he cannot
do so more surely than to become the
apOlogist of such ideas, no matter as
whose advocate he may appear. The
time has come when government can no
longer be defined as force, but as machin-
cry by which the will of the people is to
be wrought out; and parties arc no long
er abstract essences whose prominence
or defeat Is the highest aim of the voter
but mere agencies by which the will of
the machinery of the government is to
administered tor the common welfare.
And the American people will never
admit nor believe that gold is the proper
motive power of government or the main
spring of party action. They know that
a party which relies on ''Hessians' and
''merccnaries" throws aside the golden
rule and scorns he ten commandments
is not whit better than one that relies
on shot guns and bull whips, tissue bal
lots and forged returns. The simple fact
is, that in the heat of his special pleading
Senator ingalls, uttered an atrOciOus Ii
bel, not only on the party which has hon
orcd him, but on the party whose ser
want he is. ALBION w. TOURGEE.