Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1873 — We can’t Afford the Slaughter. [ARTICLE]

We can’t Afford the Slaughter.

Commenting upon Mr. Packard’s defense of the “back pay” action of Congress, the Michigan City Enterprise remarks: "The executions threatened the nrosalary men will behead the most distinguished statesmen of both parties. The same axe that falls on the General's neck Avill drop into the basket the heads of Gov. Hendricks, Lyman Trumbull, Vice President Wilson and a host of others. can't allbrd the slauglier.” In our bumble opinion it is a mistake to think that any individual or class of politicians are necessary to the well being of this government, to 60 great an extcfit that their places can not be filled with Others equally good, equally great, and equally wise. If it was the case, then when this person or that person was removed from office or died, the government would enter on the first stages of de.clinc. During our late war how frequently was it remarked by newspapers aud their correspondents that shduld General So-and-so be removed or killed, his loss would be irrepairable; yet their favorites were over-

—————— l.qkeh by the vicissitudes they dreaded, and scarcely a ruffle was pensioned. $o in civil affairs; one man dies or is removed from a BtaW’hich he has long and honorably filled business is not interrupted thereby. An individual dies, as. a bucket of water is taken from tlie sea, yet tho grand ocean of life rolls on its eternal billows as resistless as before. It is bad logic to urge that because rascals are numprous, or wealthy, oy powerful it is impolitic to punish them. Such argument tends to throw a mantle of respectability over crime if it assumes gigantic proportions, pr is perpetrated by intelligent minds. Newspapers and ministers of the gospel of Christ are continually inveighing against the evil tendencies cf the present age and generation; yet when, as in the Credit Mobilicr transactions, and “back pay” act of Congress, luen of wealth, of position, of ability, and of intelligence arc detected lying and stealing, these same preachers and papers promptly defend those men and excuse their crimes “because we cant afford to slaughter them,” those papers and those preachers discover greater moral turpitude, Conimit a deeper wrong against society, and demoralize the public mind to a greater extent than even the scoundrelswhose accessories they become. - S——— —-- Can’t afford to punish the guilty because they are powerful! What advice would this have been for the archangel Michael to haye offered Jehovah, when Lucifer revolted with a third of the hosts of heaven? Can’t afford to punish these men because they are numerous! The American people cannot afford to let these men remain in power. Kick every Demoeratio and cvery Repub 1 ican thief of them out of politics and out of office. Make stealing odious and offer a premium for honest men.