The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-09-04

mas so gr1eNOuSly Delled the nOnOred
name Of our beloved commonwealth.
The Supreme Question.
The pressing duty oil twelve years ago
faces every good citizen with steadily
increasing weight of responsibility.
that whicn we regard as the most sac
red legacy of the founders of our great
state. 1t Is our privilege, also, To once
more unite with unselnsh earnestness
to declare and maintain our fidelity to
the best interests OF all the people. AS
the lines have been drawn, we may
justly demand the most effective coop
GRAFTON Of self-respcctlng and right
thinking citizens irrespective of parti-
sanship. The supreme question before
us is one which appeals to every pa
triotic instinct; Is above and beyond
the real or imaginary boundaries which
ordinarily divide men in the discussion
of public affairs. II is the preservation,
unsullied and unbroken, OF the fabric
of honest legislation and adminiStra-
tion, with which we are concerned.
Twice the people have decided this is
sue against their would-be masters-in
1882 and in 1S90-and we confidently
believe that they wIll thus vlndicate
themselves and maintain their rights
in 1902
The Rising Tide Of Revolt.
You Will pardon reference 10 the fact
that III my speech of acceptance In
loSV, 1t was pointed out tnat All history
taught the uauger OF cELrusUlng, even
to WISE and ylrtuous men. dictatorship
in anairS oI state tnat in democratic
government absolute power, the temp
tatiOl 10 misuse whlcn Is ever present,
| can only be achieved and maintained
through a resort TO unrepuDllCan meth
ous, the abuse OF OtiiClal privileges and
the suppression OF the popular Will. lt
I fI mi hapaIt sI 4 npnrta nf
! Pennsylvania, that tney had not will.
ingly CHOSEN the leadership against
I continuance or which they manifested
sucn hopeful unrest; that tney submit
| ted thereto under protest, and would
| surely record their condemnation there
/ of at the polls. The historical fact
! with which that campaign for clean
/ politics and honest government con-
] cluded, Is an inspiration for the pres
ent hour. The people of Pennsylvania
are iorbearing and patient beyond all
/ others, slow TO wrath and careful in
action, but when there is a moving OF
| the mighty waters of an aroused public
! sentiment il speedily becomes irresist-
able.
Integrity Of Party Organization.
Political parties may properly divide
upon puDliC issues, but there are some
/ questions that are common to all, and
one OF these is the integrity of party
| organization. Under our system OF gov
ernment 1t is OF vital importance that
each party should be SO organized and
, controlled that in the event OF its sue
cess this shall mean the faithful ex-
preston of The popular will, to be fol-
! lowed by the redress OF public wrongs,
| the correction OF evils ol administra-
! ton, and the enforcement OF true prin-
Ciples. Manifestly, this cannot be when
the leadership oil party is either cor
| rupt or despotic, and wherein vicious
influences are eXerted over any consid-
cradle number OF party workers. The
existence of these vices in any party
organization must always be condemn
ed by an enlightened pubic sentiment.
In nearly every great city in this
country, from the reign oil lweedlsm,
in New York, which was brought to an
end through the dauntless courage and
wonderful energy OF great American
citizen, Samuel j. Tilden, whose mem
ory must always be reyered by the
friends of good government, to the re-
cent overthrow of ruinouS cabal in
the City of the Golden Gate, largely
through the righteous cooperation OF
Republican citizens OF San francisco,
this impressive lesson has been taught
Constituencies political leaders have
been sternly admonished that they can
not with impunity continue indefinitely
to defy the moral law in the conduct OF
party organizations and the admins
tration OF public affairs. Ii is the I'M
perative demand OF all patriotic men
that pouLical organizations shall repre-
sent and illustrate the integrity OF po-
litical faith; that they shall be con-
trolled and directed not by their worst
but by their best elements. We must
maintain this basic principle or popular
government cannot continue. Candi-
dates for public office must be honestly
selected, without undue influence OIL
the use of corrupt means to defeat the
popular will. There Is no abiding place
upon American soil for the politica
auctioneer and his subseryient crea
lures.
1t is no wonder revolt is in the air il
Pennsylvania, when these just senti
; mentS have been so openly derlded
when there have been expressions o
contempt for the power OF the people a.
against corrupt organization. The his
: tOrian of our time VIII scarcely be
, lieve the evidence before his own eye
when he reads the shameless declara
: tion made by a political autocrat IL
I Philadelphia, little while ago. Urg
, ing his followers to renewed diligence
and ZEAL and suggestively holding be
fore all others the way to secure th
, favor of the boss, he said:
: ton is offices. We have ten Thousand
. Office holders in this city and they ar
: all ours. Under the present admins
= tration no man can ret an office unles
( he is loyal to the organization. Onl
/ today the organization voted fort
2 | thousand dollars for tax receipts HOY
3 could we do that if we did not have tn
: Office holders? If you want an ohic
4 or preferment in political life you viii
= have to get it through the organiza
g ton. The Office holders are the back
bone of the organization"
g Under such a debased code of politi
q cal ethics, government in this country
n which the immortal Lincoln declared
q upon the hallowed field of Gettysburg
o should be "of the people, for the pee
e pie and by the people" would be sup
f planted by the political boss, with gov
ernment of ofllce-holders, for Office
n holders and by otfice-holders. This
" the Alpha and Omega of his politics
n creed. With this as his motto, he live!
d bargains, trades and thriVes. His IN
V fluence over administrative officers an
: in the halls of legislation is hostile
@ the interests of the people, corrupt an
: debasing to the last degree. He is tn
willing yet always thrifty servant {
monopoly, the well-paid lobbyist
whose account may be charged the de
e feat of many measures demanded b
n tha DpODlp and the success of Other