| Show HB corruption CRY az of the peculiarities of american politics in this age to is the persistent charges of corruption on the part pan of public officials so general and so comfor have baie become the charges and so well founded they generally appear I 1 to be that there has grown up in n he 6 minds mindi of the people a quiet belief of much truth in the saying A change of officers to is simply a change of thieves new york tork to is conspicuous ji a this regard regard as it has been for years chicago also and other large cities come in lor their share but it is not confined 0 o municipalities the state legislature of new york is having rouble on this score the illinois legislature comes colnes upper under newspaper criticism for far the same reason brook yn is being worked up and st louis a abot au unspoiled spotted all sources and from all al parties come cries of corruption no place so high that its officer is not liable to a charge of dishonesty and not infrequently the charge flaat proves roves well founded in view of tato fact the boast of honest government by either of the great parties becomes a gli zaLly sarcasm sar dolt it simply proves that corruption is not confined confine to arty any party I 1 that in both there are dishonest men who bring principles lot into contempt and tha tithe chief end of the politician seems to be not to win admiration for his own principles pies but to cast obloquy 10 IF upon his opponent and thereby ga gain n a foul advantage it becomes a newer fawe x argument where the party that can throw the greatest filan at the door of the other is deserving of the greatest trust and confidence not by such methods to is am american erlean politics to be raised to a better standard and the people educated to breathe the pure atmosphere of principle the tendency of the day is to beget confidence in the effic efficacy cy of that which I 1 is vile and degrading as a power rather than to turn the hearts of men into directions which elevate there was a time when the the great patties parties of the day contended for and battled in behalf of great thol thoughts gats which were worthy th the e name of principle 1 the student of the political ic Z history of today to day however will find the men who could still wage a warfare on these worthy grounds are largely re relegated 9 ted to private life while abe he great reat bulk at of those who mould the public u I 1 c thought and command the public le a applause lause make ake but casual and distant disant references to fundamental principles and rely in serene confidence on the all powerful powers ul effects of some piece of villainy that men conspicuous in the opposite party have been accused ot of not by such means may this nation hope to rise to the heights to which its ita underlying principles give promise such methods are contemptible temp tible in those who use them and are debasing to mankind as by them the current of thought is sent through impure channels seeking tr for that which is vile becoming bout contaminated laminated by it and working out results as doleful as the influences by which they are surrounded and for which only the public mind is educated to be on oil the i alert the inevitable outcome of such a policy is disaster yet lyet this course is that most esteemed by political managers and to preach other ether doctrines is to proclaim ones self in the general esteem as unfit for service among men this his is true it if the aim be but for the hour but when men would build for the future these are the last and the basest reasons to which wise men and statesmen should appeal principles are for ever those who would build upon them can make no DO sacrifices for aday a day or a week and th this Is rule applies in all directions and without any exceptions |
