Evening journal., 1898-10-18
LETTERS FROM TIE PEOPLE
MALFpAslANCE OF oFWCE.

ma. .feasance of Office in Pennsylvania
state and City pohtics--and when those
high in Office are under the ban Oh sus-
picion, many a man intuiNively IN
qulres. either OF himself or his neigh
Dor, the reason or cause Vi all the eX-
istent corruption in office. Ii the aiore-
said maladministratiOn OF public al
fairs was of an exceptional or rare
character. occurring but now and then
to break the monotony of the duh rou-
tine of that which is commonplace in
the world Of politics, then there would
be little or nothing to excite feelings
of wonderment and disgust IN the
minds Of the people. An occasional
lapse or perversion on the part OF
either this or that incumbent OF u po-
litical Office is to be expected so long
as the innate frainty Of human nature
Is what it u.s. But there is a most
damnable iteration in the crOolledness,
the fragrant rascality and the uncOn-
scionab,e depravity of the general run
of political oflice-holders. If it is not
United States Senator who is charged
either rightly or wrongly, as the case
may be-wlth Illegally specializing with
the Commonwealth s monies, then It is a
Councilman who is charged with ac-
cepting a paltry $500 bribe; and If it IS
not the controlling Official, also a po-
iucal office-holder, of AN almshouse
who is charged with stealing the lead
from off he roof of the said abode tor
paupers. then It is some gas fiend'
o. water snake" rapscallion who Is
charged with unduly lining his pocket
With stolen dollars. And so the system
Of peculation runs through the whole
gamut of the political world Of the
State of Pennsylvania. We believe IL
was Diogencs, of classic fame. who was
wont to perambulate at night, with a
lantern. in search Of an honest man.
We don't know If he ever found one.
But we do know that if Diogenes. or
any other man. for that matter, had
lived in these days. and if his quest
had been the discovery OF an honest
man in the political world of the State
Of Pennsylvania. his errand would not
only have been a fruitless one, but the
probabilities are that the leather mar
ket. by reason OF the mans useless
aregrinations. would have had de-
cidedly strong and upward tendency.
What doee all this rascality in Office
mean anyway? Are the political
worlds. state and civic, Of this great
and important Republic in an inextri-
cable and helpless muddle If not, wha;
are the causes generating the present
deplorable and manifest condition o.
political rottennese and illega.ity o
procedure2 One of the causes, per
haps the chief cause, and one that /.
not generally appreciated, is the ad
mission into politics of an undesirable
class of men, men of no financial
standing. men who possess no stake in
either the city. state or country, and
whose only ambition or motive, when
seeking Office, IS to rob, pillage and
lplunder all and everything Ia sight
For instance, the ward politician, an
Objectionable character at best, man
VINO. doubtless. never in his life work
ed twenty-four hours at any legitimate
business, is nominated for, and elected
70, some political office or other oil
trust and responsibility. Why is such
a man elected to office? God knows il
Is not because his reasoning apparatus
is in The least a legislative faculty
why. then, is 50 peslzy and, in a polu
cal sense. 50 illegitimate a specimen o.
humanity elected to leglslate, in an,
capacity whatever. in behalf Of the peO
PIE? The answer is. simply because
the man controls so many votes in his
particular ward, or because he is Z
faithful adherent Of a shameless, de-
spicable and detestable machine. Ina
ie why such a man is elected to Of
fee. The prevailing system OF putting
} poor men into office. men who have
nothing at stake men who have moth
ing to lose and all to gain by acquir
ing office-this system is a pernicioui
: one. one that win ever act to the detri
ment and disadvantage OF the people.
poor man may remain honest SO Ions
as he remains without the pale Of th'
political word, but the moment h
comes within the pale of that world
then the chances are that his honesty
will shrivel and melt before the sun
light Of temptation, and the man viii
go in for the acquisition of dishoncs
wealth. There are, of course, excep
tions to this rule, but the exception.
are mighty few and only lend add
tIonal color to the ass rtion that thos'
exceptions prove and substantiate IN,
rue. If one is ready to b,atantly as
sert thar the National. State and Cit.
Governments Of this country we're tor
mulatcd for the express and sole pur
- t,,llf..f1,,,f ,1.~anooronnf tho