The herald., 1897-11-01
PUBLIC ENEMIES

Under this caption the Boston Herald
of the 10th inst. has an editorial which
commences with this sentence: ''The
popularity of the present state of pub
lie affairs in this country is that the peo-
pie have not so much to apprehend from
the success of any particular measures
of public policy as they have to dread the
success of certain public men,"
1t proceeds, further, to discuss the sit
uation in regard to questions before the
! country and concludes that our greatest
danger is from extravaganza in the eX-
penditure of money, and asserts that
extravaganza is more the effect of the
kind of men who are influential in pub
lie affairs than it is of the creed of any
party. If we could remove from politics
men who are debauching it, there would
be less tendency to profligacy in pub
lie expenditure"
1t holds that there is public enmity of
a serious character, and it is found in
those "who would debauch all parties.
who would attack not only statesman
ship but purity of government ITSELF
and corrupt it into an instrument for
their own selfish purposes" 1t alleges
that the great state of Pennsylvania has
long been under their domination and
that the greater state of New York has
bowed down to them in both parties,
having reached the lowest depths in
subserviency to Platt and Croker. 1t is
severe upon Hanna and Mckinley and
says:
The time is brief. since John Sherman,
who had at least been statesman, was
induced to yield his seat in the senate
to Mark Hanna, who had demonstrated
no claim to it but the capacity to carry
a presidential nomination and to raise
and distribute money to compass pres
idential election. The president of the
United States, whom he had served in
this way, was understood to exert his
personal influence to bring this about,
and not only that, but to declare his
purpose to aid by the bestowInent of
office the men who had ostracised
craftsmanship that their personal pow
er might be established in New York
and Pennsylvania.
The concluding paragraph of the edi.
torial is as follows:
This lowering of the tone of states
manship, this attempt to carry parties
over to systematic corruption is the
most prominent feature of our politics.
Those engaged in it are public enemies.
1t is far more important that their in
fluence for evil be met and nullifed than
it is that one or another party shall
obtain few thousand votes more or
less. 1t is the duty of all patriotic men
to oppose them, and it appeals to them
without regard to party. 1t is more
incumbent upon the Republicans than
Democrats, because in the Republican
party these men are making the great
est advance and becoming the most
formidable at the present time.
Whatever may have been the faults
of Mr.. Cleveland, it is certain that he
was far less influenced by political
bosses than is Mckinley. The latter has
been handicapped and demoralized by
influences which Cleveland had the
courage to resist. So long as trusts and
monopolies are favored by policies oe
government to the detriment of the
masses, so long shall we have political
bosses and corruption of our politics
through the use of money. Publication
begins and ends with the application
of those measures which treat all classes
impartially.