Year: 1871

. ReUedyt


At no time, perhaps, in the history Of the
American people has the plague of low politi-
clans been more mischicvous than at the
present period. Every community. from Maine
to California, suffers from it, in . greater or
lesser degree, but none Of them to the same
extent as the city of New York. The plaques
of Egypt were tolerable compared with this
American scourge; and it may not be an


undue stretch of the Imagination to suppose


that if, after the latest punishment inflicted on


Pharaoh and his people, they had still Kept


their hearts hardened, the plague Of the poll


ticians would have been unloosed upon them


as the diress Of evils, until they would have


been too glad to get rid Of the Israslites on


any terms.


In our own country we have not been with


out other and grievous sufferings. We have


been tried by civil war, pestilencs and FIRE;


but from these as from all other scourges that


afilct humanity, recovery is possible and re-
cuperation easy. But this plague of politics
poisons the whole body polite, and If no
remedy can be found and applied, it will as
certainly bring decay and death to our entire
fabric Of government as the most virulent
poison will to the human system. This is no
imaginary danger; it is . real one. Already
we find every department of government pol
luted and rotten. We find our grand aud
| beautiful city byword and reproach among


men, a prey to all the thieves and ras-


Gals who, under the deadly banners of party


politics, invade our public Places plunder


our treasury, fill our seats of justice with their


partisans, turn over our schools to the control


of the low, the ignorant and the vicious, and.


in a word, destroy everything that is most dear


and necessary to civilized society. And as


in the city, so in the State, where the legisla-


tive body has fallen so low in public opinion,


has become so tainted with vileness and cor


ruption that no decent citizen ever thinks or


need think Of entering it. Ascending from
| State to nation we find the same evil existing;
and if not to 80 marked an extent it is only


because the poison is slower in its operation
upon the larger and stronger than upon


the smaller aud weaker organism. But even
| Congress itself is becoming deeply tainted
| with the national vice. 1t is but week or
two since one of the most ''sruly loyal" Con-
gressmen from the South-Stokes, Of Tennes-
see-was arrested on serious charge of
conspiracy and fraud on the government, in
the carrying out of which other eminently
loyal representatives from the same section
aided. and abetted. Within day or two past
the name Of an Iowa representative has been
mixed up with an equally discredtable trans
action of like character. The exposures Of
the corrupt sales of military and naval cadet
ships by various members of the last Congress
are still fresh in the public memory. Aud
as for other proofs of the laxity Of
public virtue in our national represen-
tasives need we go further than. to
point to the Wholesale granting away of the
public domain to railroad corporations within
the last twenty years? 1t needs 40 testimony to


prove that such legislation was not in the pub
| lie interest, but for private gain and spolia-
| ton, and that it must have been, to q large
extent at least, promoted by corruption.


And how is it that we have driftsd into this


abyss of public infamy? Is 1t that the Ameri-


can people are less virtuous, less honorable,
less influenced by high and noble motives than
the people of any other county? We hope
not we believe not On the contrary, it has
been our boast, perhaps too vainly enter
tanned and put forward, that in education and
in all that elcvates and honors nation we are
In the advance and ascendancy. How is it,
then, that in all our leglsl ative assemblies and
In all our public departments, whether Of
town, city, State or nation, corruption and in
competency are the rule and honesty and fit
ness the rare exceptioni 1t is because we
have bowed so long to the Baal Of politics.
There never was more stupid, grotesque or
male6cent idol set up before mankind to be
worshipped and knelt down to. 1t is the in
terest of the politicians, those vulgar priests
of an obscene idolatry, to perpetuate the de-
lusion that the existence Of faith in them
selves and In the systems which they repre-
sent is necessary for the continuance Of So
ciety. And so long as they are able to Ike cp
up this delusion and 80 shackle public and
private judgment the reign of fraud and cor
ruption will continue and flourish. Look at
our own city to-day! What q disgraceful spec


tacle it presents, with its principal thorough
fares arched by banners, which haunt in the
eyes Of the passing crowds the names and eff


gies Of candidates for public honors who are ut


terly unfit by education, position or character
in the community to hold any place of trust or
emolument! We do not confne oux structures
to the candidates of one party. They apply
to those of all parties and factions. They are
all alike; and we only regret to see that the
famous Committee Of Seventy"-to which the
people supposed they could look for honor
and decency-has had the ndecency to en-
dorse and recommend to public support men
who have certainly nothing else TO recommend
than On Ga c.aat,d;ana of tho xoo.,lo,s 4=1.aL