Year: 1873

zen who wishes purity in government.
While we admit that many of the mem
bers of the party in power are honest,
and desire every department of govern
ment, Federal and State, to be free from
fraud and corruption, we are satisfied
that the Republican party cannot bring
| about these results. In the first place it
cannot take a stand against the general
system of internal improvements to build
up private corporations practiced by the
general government ever since it came
into power. 1t cannot take a stand
against the paternal intermeddling theory
of government interfering with our local
rights, because it has at all times prac-
ticed upon different theory. 1t cannot
take a stand in favor of strict construc-
ton of constitutional powers, and against
the usurpation of ungranted power, the
source from which springs so much mis-
chief; for it has always practiced the op-
posite. 1t cannot condemn nepotism
and the taking of gifts by public officers
having favors to disburse, because it en-
dorses the greatest transgressor in this
respect the country ever produced. 1t
may condemn back pay, but it cannot
consistently advocate the reduction of
salaries in any department of govern
ment, because it has increased the sala-
ries of every officer, Federal and State,
from the President to the lowest office in
State or County. For these and many
other reasons that might be assigned, it
is perfectly unreasonable to expect the
Republican party to SO reform as to make
it fit to govern free people, jealous of
their liberties and their good name 1t
is well established fact that the party
in power is wholly under the dictation
of bankers, bond and stock holders, rail
road kings and revenue collectors and
receivers, gamblers and spectators in
taxes. tariffs, gold, lands, and stocks, and
that the system of government establish
ed by this party is calculated to benefit
this class at the expense of those who
dig and toll, and earn their living by the
sweat of their brow


How are the evils arising from this
system of legislation to be corrected? l
answer, by changing the system Of gov
ernment, and by adopting the old Jeffer-
son principles of local self government,
where equal justice between all classes
will be the object and aim of every legis-
lation act 1t will not he denied that
the system of government established by
Jefferson, and maintained by the De-
mocracy for many years, favoring a strict
construction of constitutional powers,
and by declaring against the usurpations
of ungranted powers, at the same time
demanding strict economy in every de-
partment of the government, was well
calculated to preserve order and purity,
and bring about untold blessings to every
generation adopting these principles as
their guide. Every departure from these
principles by the American people has
brought about evil results.


Are we then willing. as honest men, to
bury our prejudices and return to sys-
tenn of government established by our
fathers, calculated to do away with the
shameful corruption and evils brought
upon the country that presents such
temptations for corruption, fraud and
speculation, that the very angels of
heaven would not be proof against the
syren enticement. What we do must be
done soon. A few more years rule by
the moneyed interests of the country, by
the way of class legislation, will bind
every freeman hand and foot with fetters
that cannot be broken. Let the people
then arise in their power and declare
that the organized system of stealing and
plundering shall no longer exist.