familiar with its workings, a machine-govern
ment. This political machine is a contrivance,
composed of numerous elements, so combined as
to produce a given result or attain a specified ob
ject. These elements are represented by a class
of men, who make politics a profession, and
above all, aim at making it profitable to them
selves.
This of course necessitates placing all positions
of trust and emolument in the hands of men of
their own class, aiming always to deprive the
people of the right or option of selecting them'.
lii war we know it is impossible to accomplish
anything without organization, unity of purpose,
and concert of action. So in politics, and under
our defective forms of popular election, this pro
cess of manuevering proves an easy matter as it is
but a curious combination of fraud and force.
The first step in this political farce, is termed
engineering the primaries and is done by an as
semblage of sovereigns. The routine is something
like this : At a certain appointed hour, the cap
tains of tens and the captains of fifties are in
prompt attendance; a machine politician is placed
in the chair by a popular (?) vote ; a inachine
politician places his nominees on the list ; by a
machine politician the nominations are adopted
and the ticket is made, The engineering of the
primary is now completed and everything has
gone along just as a machine naturally does its
work.
The secret work known as "making up the
slate," having been previously done, each ele
ment composing the machine knows what to do
and does it well. Occasionally, factions arise in
the different parties, which cause the "breaking
of the slate," but the result is the same, of no use
or importance to the country. The management
of the conventions is nearly equally simple, but
in order to produce a popular effect on the peo
ple, a declaration of party principles known as a
platform, must be adopted.
Every plank in this platform glows with patri
otic and virtuous sentiment, which are forgotten
THE FREE LANCE.
as soon as adopted. Every post supporting it
glitters with indisputable propositions, and is
embellished with a choice selection of sparkling
generalities, which sound very well but mean very
little. Two subjects must always be touched
upon in the building of a well constructed plat
form ; first a curtailing of the public expenditure,
and second, a nicely worded denunciation of the
miscreants who rob our brave soldiers and sailors
of their justly deserved pensions.
When this masterpiece of composition is corn
pleted, the work of the convention is done, and
wo have two great parties equipped ready to con
test for the prize. We have two great machines
representing our nation, and all the man outside
of politics can do, is stay outside or select with
which party he will run. Aside from these con
ditions his only alternative is independent action,
but this is always accompanied by hard work and
probably defeat in the ultimate.
This we say describes the prevailing custom in
politics ; but in cases of special exigencies, a man
not known as a professional politician may some
times be elected. It is but a few years since such
an one filled the Presidential chair. He at
tempted a radical reform in politics and even
politicians pretended to favor his ideas, for in
their first platform under his administration a
plank inscribed "Civil Service Reform" was in
serted. This looked very well but meant noth
ing, as the professional politician always favors a
good thing, but never does it unless it furthers
his own interests. On this occasion, as others,
the platform was not upheld, and the President dis
gusted with the success of the project let the ma
chine grind on as before. Things have come to
such a state that a public office is now sought by
many, because of the emolument it brings rather
than because of the honorable functions with
which it clothes him. History painfully demon
strates to us the point to which through corrup
tion our politics has brought us. How many
cases can be cited where the opportunities and
powers 9f office were used to increase the gains