Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1877 — Non-Interference in Elections by United States Officials. [ARTICLE]

Non-Interference in Elections by United States Officials.

To the Editor of the La Porte Heratd: I have been asked frequently what effect the prohibitory clause of the President’s recent order in relation to federal appointees engaging actively in party organizations and conventions will have on the Republican party, ami not having any opinious on the subject which I desire to conceal I choose this method of answering all such questions. 'The order and principle are right: for the very good reason that office should always be subordinate lo the principle advocated. In other words, political principles should be the basis, aud the office the merest incident. Unfortunately this is not the case; at least it is not the cuse with the active politicians who, in lhe ordinary’parlance of the day, run the machine. The question asked at all our conventions more frequently than any other, is: Who can we elect? who is the most available man for the place? And this is usually settled long before the platform of principles is announced. The really important part of party organizations js usually remitted to some well-known platidrin writer, who readily seizes upon the general issues before the country, reduces them to well-worded sentences and casts them forth as a declaration of principles for the party. As an illustration of how far parties have drifted from what ought to guide them, I. cite the two national platforms of lust year and call attention to the fact thattthere were but few sentiments clearly enunciated in either that would not then or now meet the approval of nine-tenths of all the intelligent voters of the country. Of course I leave out of view the drivel and chip-trap parts of each aud refer to the substantive principles announced in each. In fact there was little difference between the two great parties, except lhe question of what was best to do witn the Southern question, involving also the payment of large Southern war chums and other upprojiriations. It is Useless to deny that in the Eastern, Middle and Western states this was theovCishadowiug question, No one saw this clearer than Mr. Tildun did. and he sought to breuK its force with his famous'letter pledging his veto in the event of such legislation. And yet. with all these pledges and provisions from both quarters, the country witnessed a struggle between the parties for supremacy such as had never been equalled and* )>erh&)>* never will be exceeded. That lids was brought about by the lavish expenditure of mniiey und strong central party organizations. is undeniable, ' Almost all of the states were uudef Democratic control. The hwal offices were largely tilled with Democrats. The tidal wave of two years before had swept nearly hll of the local offices from the hands of the Republicans, and they ecu hl look to lhe federal office*only to raise mepey to cauy on the campaign against llieir viytmious adversaries. '1 be two parties stood nearly equal in tliis irspept. The one, flushed with re’vent victories;

held the redoubts; tqt* other was’ determined, not only ttrftold the works, but also to retake tlielf-.lost terrj'ory. With large contribuU.QnH, raised from every source where rtjoney could be squeezed out. Hie parties begilii’ thd conflict; and, strange to say, by the light of the wry torches which hud been paid fqr With money that Wjvmßj/ part raised by the very means then and now denounced, both parties yelled lustily for reform! Now, if the country is going to reform, a beginning has to be madeThere Is no better place to begin than at the fountain head. That a mail must be bled for political purposes because he holds a business office under tiie government, is wrong; that if permitted, nay, forced, to take an active part in “running the machlhe/* his better judgment is warped ant) his candid convictions stifled by ■■selfinterest, is equally true; und that the tendency of such action is to support party right or wrong, is very apparent. It is to remove all these vicious tendencies, and ninny mofe nrit enumerated, that the President has taken the step he has; and I want to see if carried out not only in letter but in spirit. I would like to see state, district, county and township officers likewUe excluded from “running the machine.” I should like to, hear all parties declare that the officer, whether federal or state, who undertook, either directly or indirectly, t<» “ru*i the political machine,” or uid it witn the use of money, or by working up strong central political organizations and leading therein, is unworthy 7 <lf the support of the people and ought not to be countenanced. In other words, the people, who support all officers, ought to be allowed to make their own selections, untramineled by officious office-holders or officeseekers. I am fiee to admit, however, that the action of the President will, in my judgment, seriously damage the Republican party, 1f It alone sustain* his action. If, in this mutter, the Democratic party shall remain nl«.of, and adopt or cling to the old system of drill-sergeants and trumpet-flour-ishers with a promise of reward to them by appointment in case of success, it will necessarily Increase their activity, while there will be corresponding inactivity on the part of the Republicans. As the saying goes, the Democrat* wi 11 get out their vote K W h ile the Republicans will fail. But with all these difficulties in the way, I am anxious to see this abuse corrected, and the President’s order carried out. As it is now, we are last becoming demoralized, and to a degree that those not in’politics do nut comprehend. We ftrg traveling at express speed-tewaixl win, utokaw-our political system i* elevated ami purified. More than all. 1 still believe that in the end the good, pure und faithful men of the country, who do not care for office bpt look alone to the country’s good, will rally to that party which iu good faith undertakes to correct these abuses, and stand by it for principle’s sakir. We have now a fair opportunity to'test- this reform; and t shall be much disappointed if the Republicans do not show to the world that theirs is a party of pr inciple, progress ami reform ; and that it can and will stand because it is builded upon a rock, and although storms may come and beat against they can-

not’ break It.

W. H. CALKINS.

A good illustration of die equal power of two votes is given in a story, which seems to be common property, of Judge Story, which he w-is very fund of telling. One cold and stormy clcction-day he felt it his duty, as usual, to go to the polls. He ordered his carriage for this purpose, but just as he was getting in a sudden thought struck him. Turning to his colored driver, he said: ‘ Have you voted yet?” “No, Masea Story, I was waiting to drive you first.” “Well, replied the Judge, “who do you intend to vote for?” “I shall vote for A., answered the driver. “Well,’ continued the Judge, laughing, “I should vote fo' IS.; so you may put up the carriage again, and we will both stay at home and pair off our votes.” The coachman was of equal importance at the ballotbox with the learned Judge. Kentucky is not averse to having a few immigrants and is inviting people to settle there. With peace and order guaranteed in the South there is no reason why there should not b-. a large accession of population. The resources of many of the states are almost boundless, the climate is tempting, and the opportunities for success, especially in agriculture, are greater than in any new s’are. It only needs one thing, perfect freedom under the laws. The Southern people are beginning tp see this. The new generation which rules the Siuth is casting off the exclustyem-ss which was such a distinctive mark ol its social system, and is Welcoming boon and muscle and capital from whatever source they A< »r.«. Wc are happy to believe that the unfair and' personal abuse •»! political opiameuls, merely because they are political opponents, is a relie of barlurism which is destined shortly to S f . hulls (t/'Jm- lirniociiif. r Indiana is the m<»t rigid Masonic jurisdiction in the United States mi ti’O temperance question. No- one can be initiated who sells or manufactures Kqu,.r fur drinking purples. Tfic New York tfirms will ekhilnt in Rensselaer, Tuesday, August 7th, 1577