I have everywhere found, primarily, thieves and scalliwags
arranging the nominations to offices, and sometimes filling the
offices themselves. I have found the north just as full of bad stuff
as the south. Of the holders of public office in the Nation or the
States or their municipalities, I have found that not one in a hundred
has been chosen by any spontaneous selection of the outsiders, the
people, but all have been nominated and put through by little or large
caucuses of the politicians, and have got in by corrupt rings and
electioneering, not capacity or desert. I have noticed how the
millions of sturdy farmers and mechanics are thus the helpless
supple-jacks of comparatively few politicians. And I have noticed more
and more, the alarming spectacle of parties usurping the government,
and openly and shamelessly wielding it for party purposes."
Sad, serious, deep truths. Yet are there other, still deeper, amply
confronting, dominating truths. Over those politicians and great and
little rings, and over all their insolence and wiles, and over the
powerfulest parties, looms a power, too sluggish maybe, but ever
holding decisions and decrees in hand, ready, with stern process,
to execute them as soon as plainly needed--and at times, indeed,
summarily crushing to atoms the mightiest parties, even in the hour of
their pride.
In saner hours far different are the amounts of these things from
what, at first sight, they appear. Though it is no doubt important who
is elected governor, mayor, or legislator, (and full of dismay when
incompetent or vile ones get elected, as they sometimes do,) there are
other, quieter contingencies, infinitely more important.
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