The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-24

! ne saw Abraham Lincoln form his frst
| cabinet. some Of them being poincal
/ knaves who mad done as much 10 corrupt
the Democratic party as the most corrupt
! political knayes that body ever pro-
1 duced." lie says that an experience OF
| o few months I'm the War Department oil
| washington city. where he was daily
brough, into contact with President Ll"-
! coin and leading members OF MS 'A"'''''
confirmed him Ia the opinion that mo
matter how great were the moral issues
| that were involved In the conflict over
| slavery and the rebellion Of the southern
states In the minds of the people iney
| had but little 10 do with the administra-
ton Of our general government and us
n,r,,ic offices" Even Mr.. Lincoln. he goes
on very soon discovered that he nao
surrounded himself with politicians whose
slogan was ITO the victors belong the
snoils' and that the war afforded them
Unprecedented opportunity to enrich
themselves and friends Just as the
Spanish and Philippine war affords the
same inscriptions class who to-day are
disgusting the American people with such
scandals as the medicated beef outrage
And this in conclusion:
A higher order Of statesmanship ana
political economy would prevail lh l"e
counso.s Of our nation. but TINS Wouln oe
bringing a clean thing out of an uncleah
an tmpossibnlty. So think your nope
OF seeing any higher order OF things IN
der our American experiment OF mannood
suffrage is already foredoomed 20 disap-
poIntment. Jni you may as Wen aeiue
down 10 endure The administration oi VIII
liam AIcKinleys criminal aggression
or Of William Bryan's CHEAP D dlsre'-
sion" Intelligence and integrity are
not disunctivoly American traits oi char
acter. Neither are they the creatures Oh
political dogmas.
We have given this much space 20
Mr. Corcys remarks because there is In
them grain Of truth though he has
spoiled his article 10y overstating the
truth fault into which So many writers
ard speakers fall There has been cor
rupt.on i'm the administration of our al-
fairs. There is much of humbussery
ana demagoey and insncerity m political
platforms. Politicians are selfish and are
ant TO think more about keeping them
solves I'm office than about the interests
of the general government Yet for all
that it IS absurd to say that the Ameri-
can people are incapable of self-soyern-
ment. II IS absurd to say that the
American republic has proven 90 De
failure. If we should pat one set of
politicians I'm Office for life time and
give them their own way without holding
Them responsible for their acts and with
out threatening them with removal, there
Is mo- doubt That they would soon become
arrogant ana corrupt and would ride
rouga-shod over the people. soon causing
the republic TO fall TO pieces. But the
people of this country are supreme. and
they are. taken as d whole more inteil--
cent more patriotic. more capable of gov
erning themselves than ever before since
fbe republic was founded. We believe too
that there is Jess aud Jess of corruption
in public office. that the affairs of gov
ernmen, are administered quite us honest.
lv as ever and more nteugenty. There
is also a better moral tone among the
office holders of the country. The people
OF this country Will not retain in office
a man whose morals are VIGOROUSLY bad.
Yet we know that such was NOT always
the case. Mr.. Corey himself intlmaies
that there was more corruption in politics
a generation ago than now.
We DO not believe that there ls amy nee
cessity for q new political party The
Democratic party was founded upon right
principles. and AN that is necessary now
for those who belong TO the party is to
live squarely up to its principles and TO
put into office men who viii carry them
out Politicians may be insinccre and
may become corrupt. but they must al
ways have a reckoning with their cone
sutuency. The people sometimes 80
wrong but in time they Will get right
and we see no possible grounds for fear
that the republic will fall. II is i'm our
opinion stronger to-day than ever be-
fore and We believe that there never was
a time when liberty was more precious
and when the men of this country were
more thoroughly in the enjoyment there
OF.