Year: 1874

in the exposure of them. As il Is always fA
1 easier to criticise and decry a wrong than {,
suggest an efficient remedy, and as the mud
died mind is most impressible to sensational
efscts-thereby enhancing publisher prof
its-but little has as yet been done toward
curing the dire disease, and cleansing the
! political system. Ulcers have been probedano
have discharged profusely of their vile cor
rTp;ion until the sight of it has become
most disgusting. 1t is quite time that these
gaping wounds should be cleaned and
closed, and the body polite be subjected to
a severe course of constitutional remedies
But let us first diagnose the disease that we
may proceed intelligently and without un-
necessarily endangering the patients life.
Human Judgment is not infallible, but i
venture the suggestion that one of the pri-
mary troubles is


TOO MUCH SECRECY.


1st. We examine the primary caucuses
and find them manipulated by a few schemers
who have quietly and secretly laid the wires,
and set the triggers, Just little in advance
of the meeting. I'd. We have the nomina-
ting conventions of the various grades,
county, district, state and national, all in
their order, engineered by leaders of more or
less ability whose plans are developed in
secret. The whole system is one of bargain
and sale. Influence and money are pitted
v.
The shrewdest head and the long
est purse are winners in the game.
All this Is pursuant to a definite policy
certain ends are to be compassed, and it is
becoming to be pretty well understood that
the public interest is not always consulted,
indeed is often the least consideration. 3.
Officers elected under the system we have
suggested will bear watching, aye, it is i'm
perative that they must be watched, lest their
conscientious scruples shall give way to
supplementary inducements" This neces-
sity develops an active lobby, where a large
share OF our legislation is concocted, where
oills are prepared in secret, ambig-
uously phrased in the technical Ian
guage OF the law books. ready for pas
sage by plant tools in the public body.
From this source emanates the legislation
which is proving so disastrous. Under
such conditions the schemes of unscrupu-
lous railway managers and public plumber
ers may be and are especially favored. Hon.
est men, If percnance one can pass to his
legislative seat through such devices, and
dangerous ways become unconsciously i'm
plicated by the shrewd management of pro-
fessional wire pullers and are then forced to
silence. The press, loyal to the sparty in
power, is subsidized to silence. while the op-
position press dare not speak too plainly lest
there may be retaliation. When it shall
have come, then turn to enjoy the feast of
fat things. Does not the observation and ex-
perience of every intelligent voter Justify the
showing have made? And if so, does not
common sense clearly dictate the remedy to
be first applied? Thesecrecy of the primary
caucus must be abolished. So long as it is
tolerated and offers facilities for abuse it will
be abused. Lead us not into temptation"
may well be the prayer of honest men. No
integrity is so sound as that which can not
be exposed to temptation. When the
primary meetings shalt be attended
by all the voters, when sufficient time shall
be taken for the discussion of all the issues
involved when the prearrapged program
shall be regarded with suspicion and dis
trust: when each voter shall understand
that il is just here that his influence is most
potent and shall comprehend the full meas
ure of mis- responsibility, then may we hope
for and have reform-a genuine, unadulte-
rated article.


But we are not likely to reach the goal
any sooner through the agency of secret So
cietiss. The


PATRONS OF HUsBANDRY,


the sovereigns of industry, the advocates of
justice and independent grangers with their
claims of super -benevolence and educational
advantages. faintly shadowIng the money
making and political purposes of all these
organizations, will only serve the ends of
their originators, by lining their pockets
with the farmers hard earned greenbacks,
and eleyating, for brief season, men of in
ferior ability to positions which they are not
competent to fill, and will finally dissolve
into thinair, leaving disgusted constituency
wondering how they were so easily gulled.
Real reform can only come through the
fullest exercise of free speech and full dis.
cussion. Association, open and above board.
is especially desirable. Just and liberal
opinions can only be formed after consulta-
ton with another, and the most careful de-
liberation. The relations of society, whether
social political or commercial can only be
remodeled by the mutual and kindly coop
Grafton Of all parties il interest. The STIR
ring up of partisan strife as between kim
dred industries, the encouragement of class
spirit is to be deplored and should be heart
ily ydiscountenanced. The press has an i'm
portant work to perform in exposing the
wrong and advocating the right. When it
shall have comprehended that there is more
profit as well as honor In serving the inter
ests of the people rather than of the party, a
long step will have been taken in advance,
and, as a final result, free government may
become a fact rather than a delusion.


CHARLES w. GREENE.


INDIANAPOLIS, April Is, 1874.


WALK INTO MY PARLoR.


From the Bedford Banner


Last week the executive committee of the
State Grange, together with the county pur-
chasing agents and other representative men
of the Patrons Of Husbandry, held con-
vention at indianapolis. After the business
for which the meeting had been called had
been disposed of, number of the grangers
met together on Thursday, and after thor
ough discussion of the condition of politics
and the needs and desires of the order, as
they understood them, they drew up the fol-
lowing call, which has been printed
in circular form, and will be dstrib-
utad throuohO the state for signatures
The order ofPatrons Of Husbandry, as we
understand it, we desire to see succeed; but
just why there is any need for separate
political reform organization, other than the
democratic organization in the state of Indi-
ana, we can't see it. The democrats of this
state are not guilty of the abuses which
brought into existence the order known as
the Patrons of Husbandry. The grangers
have no cause to complain OF the democracy. :.
for they have not had an opportunity these
dozen years to trample on the rights of farm
ers or any other class of citizens. This move


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