The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-08-25

of a great, free, independent and
patriotic people.
1t will not do in the face of trans
piring events for any political boss
to arrogate unto himself and his
immediate associates all the patri-
otism in the land, and no political
boss and his supporters can success
fully use such thin cloak to cover
up the NAL administration and de-
bauchery of Our present state gov
ernment.
The corruption and profligacy of
the last two republican legislatures
cannot be successfully hidden from
the people in this campaign under
the slogan of 'the war, protection
and sound money" for these mat
tiers are not now in controversy in
this commonwealth, so far as the
same relates to national politics.
Every sensible republican must
regret this attempted imposition
upon the intelligent voters of the
state by the candidate on their tick
ct for the highest Office in the gift
of this people.
We will give the enemies of good
government and clean politics in
this state all the aoar they will want
before the next election and no
doubt but that they will change.
their present tactics and cry for pro-
feeff0n from ou- assaults upon their
corrupt prohigate management of
the peoples affairs long before eur
nparon Mlm shall end on election
day.
Good government honestly and
economically administered in the in
terest of the whole people of our
state rather han in the interest of
few political bosses is the one absorb
ing issne before the people IN this
campaign. Shall the people rule
their own affairs in their own way or
permit some unscrupulous political
boss to usurp their rights and power
to govern themselves? What politi-
cal boss has controlled and dominated
your Republican governor during the
last quarter of century, What poll
tical boss held and controlled the last
two Republican legislatures2 What
political boss forced the election of a
U. S. senator in the last legislature ?
Under what political bosses are the
federal Offices sold and bartered away
to the highest cash bidders throughout
this state What political boss forced
the nomination of Col. w. A. Stone
for governor on the Republican ticket7
What political boss will own and
dominate this candidate in the event
of his election next November (? Is it
likely that he would refuse to do the
bidding of his political masterp By
what political boss is the next legisla-
ture to be controlled Have the
people no rights that the political boss
is bound TO regard and respect1 Are
our people no longer capable of self
government Are they unable to
look at these questions dspassionate-
lyr Is the time not at hand when the
people should rise up in their majesty
and throw off the yoke of the unscru-
pulous political bosses, great and
small, nov at the helm, and forever
crush out this pernicious, corrupt and
profigate boss system that has fasten-
ed itself upon the body polite and
wholly bank1upted the commonwealth?
A public office is public trust and
no man who does not so regard it has
right to seek the support of the peo.
pie. A pubic officer is nothing more
than the servant of the people during
the term for which he is elected. The
public good and the general welfare
OF all the people, irrespective ofparty,
should therefore be his sole aim and
study during his term of office. He
has no right to set himself up as a
master, nor use his Office to further
his own personal and political ends at
the expense of the public good. His
first duty is to the people who are his
masters. They are entitled to his
whole time, and he should therefore
familiarize himself with the duties of
his office and the routine of the public
business, and render the public faith
ful service in turn for the confidence
reposed in him. The people have
right to have their affairs managed
and conducted in business-like man.
ner. The same business principles
that govern prudent business man
In the conduct of his own private
Affairs should be employed by him in