The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-02-25
The Root of Political Sorrow.

The Root of Political Sorrow.
Columbus Pross.-
1t will not be denied by Thoughtful
persons that this country is now suf-
fering from an epidemic of official
dishonor. At no time in our nation
al history has official delinquency
been so great or universal. In every
great city and in almost every small
one, public scandals fill the columns
of the newspapers. ''Defalcation"
and bribery" are familiar words in
every community where generation
ago neither was often heard. The
reasons for the growth of dishonesty
in this country during the past gem
GRAFTON, if fully stated, would require
a rehearsal of its history. But ole
cause more conspicuous than all the
others in the growth of official dis
honor and infidelity is the ambition
for office. There is an ambition for
place and power that is not corrupt
ing to the character or fatal to the
integrity of the aspirant. An ambi-
tion to secure power to WELD it for
the bett srment of the community is
noble ambition. The desire to at
tain Office to simplify government
and make it more efficient and less
expensive is worthy of any man. No
blame can attach to him who
seeks office in orderri light wrongs and
abate injustice. Such motives are
wholly unselfsh and patriotic. But
who is there now who seeks Office for
so lofty an end? Itcan not be doubt
ed that most aspirants for office
mingle, with their ambition to serve
the public, not II few selfish thoughts.
The candidate who seeks office more
for his own sake than from any de-
sire to render the public selfish
service will make neitheran efficient
nor entirely honestpublics servant.
The salaries of most public officers in
this country are much too high. A
odldl W lllti III a. l'h Nthlo
the incumbent rich is sure to be
sought for by selfish men. 1t is not
the Office, but the salary which is
most attractive. Such Offices will be
sought by those who have no other
object than the gain which accrues
to them byreason of election to them.
The highest and best service can not
be expected from men who seek Of
flee from such motives. Such men,
counting upon the personal gain by
election to Office, are willing to spend
money to obtain it. Their desire for
and pursuit of Office is but business
negotiation, mere Investment
which will justify II given outlay in
view of tile income. Several candi-
dates in pursuit of the same office,
therefore, Using all the elcctioneer-
ing agencies known to modern poll
tics, are sure to create strife and en-
list in their service men who cannot
afford to give time without compen-
sltion. An office with large salary
Il certain TO enlist the ambition ofI
several candidates. Each candidate
seeks to aid his nomination by every
permissible agency, Soon scores and
hundreds of men are enlisted either
under pay or promise to pay for their |
services in the promotion of candi-
dates. The primary election comes
on, and hundreds of vehicles and |
men are at work at the polls draw
ing in voters for their favorites.
Those who submit to being hauled to
the polls almost without eXceptio II
vote for the candidate whose liberal
ity furnished the conveyance. In
such a mad scuffie those who are
conveyed to the polls greatly out
the independent voters who
prefer to be free to vote as they
please. For this reason the candi-
date who conveys the largest num-
Der of voters to the polls is aptest to
be nominated, and his nomination
has cost him a large sum OF money
ana usually alarge loss of manhood.
So well has it become'known that no
man (however high his character
and qualification) can be nominated
20 office by any other means than
hose In general use.
A candidate who now expects to !
'e nominated to lucrative office by :
announcing his name and placing +
elegance on his character and inte-
;rity to carry him successfully I
trough the canvass against compe- =
itors who spend money in the em-
'ioyment of pickets and outriders :
or weeks preceding the primary,
nd who on that day furnish each Of ;
hem q horse and wagon to