The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-11
The Crusade Against Corn upton.


neous Intelligence; Advertisements, &c.
The Crusade Against Corn upton.
1t may be startling, but it is an unluestion-
able fact. that the system of representative gov
eminent has never had fair trial anywhere.
Antiquity is of course out of the question.
Long before the learned labors OF NieDuhr Ar
mold. and Grote exhibited the miscailed demo-
cracies of Rome and Athens in their real defor-
nifty, no man Of respectable attachments would
have allowed himself to be told that either of
the great republics was actually governed by
the people. Later experiments. though GER
tainly more successful and more conscientious,
have yet fallen far short Of perfect accuracy.
Corruption, venality, and indifference have
always prevailed to such an extent that the
results of electoral experiments must be receiv-
ed with the greatest caution and strange to
say so far. as our experience gees, neither
bribery nor Indifference has been materially
affected by the extension or the limitation Of
he franchise. We find differences of detail in
che modus 0per0ndi in different countries but
with one or two abnormal exceptions, tie main
Eature-the presence OF foreign and corrupt
ea.ases operating to prevent and counteract the
popular willis everywhere the same. Where
universal suffrage obtains. the primary voters
aresoo numerous to be bought. But they can
always be bullied; and past experience would
seem 70 teach that, if the choice were offered
hem, they would rather be bullied than not
Corruption, therefore. finds ia first votaries in
the buLies. These are soon initiated by the
representatives., WHO, having paid dear Oh
o. their elections. are in no WISE loath to cell
themselves in their turn, as soGr as they are q
marketable article. Where the suffrage is limited,
the s:otcrs may be had in person, in small lots,
at vesy reasonable rates and Large operators
may s,.cceed in controlling the market. We
have seen constitution under which the fran
ohkse Wa. go neatly confirm ed that tie govern
mcnt OF the day could work it as it pleased al
most without outlay. But tits was the work of
a man of gestus. Modern tirses have produced
few Vil1tles.
Whatever have beer the Distinguishing fea-
lures of each particulx system that has been
tried the NET results Of a careful examination
Of its working will be g thorough conviction
that the world has Tot yet witnessed govern
ment really and who'll : selected by the popular
will. Our own is probably ttis nearest approach
that has ever been made; sai how lar it falls
short Of what it purports to be 10 this Iarticu-
lar. none VINO have witnessed an @ieeitoa need
ba told.
An attempt is now being made to rec u in's
abuse. People have begun to see that 'seJ
have been deluded too long; and a simui o.
aeous crusade against corruption has been
undertaken in Great Britain and in this State. |
How sorely it was needed in the former may be
inferred from the confident statement Of the
london Times, that of the six hundred and
fifty odd members of the House of Commons
more than six hundred had paid more for
their seats than the law justified. Indeed.
the evidence given by the witnesses on the
Bribery Committees, discloses such loathsome
state Of rotenness in the working fthe electoral
law in England, that we need feel but little
shame at our peccadilloes. OF the sixteen men,
hers whose defeated opponents had the money
and the interest necessary to impcach the va
lidity of their elections, only three have
been able to stand the test Of an inquiry
The others stand before the world con-
victed Of having bought their Office Of repre-
sentative of the people. More despicable
acts Of meanness-more base double dealing
than these committees have proved against MEN,
hers of the oldest and noblest families Of Eng
land the history of Rome at its worst age does
not afford Nor do the free and enlightened
electors fare better. An Englishman's con
science according TO the tariff established by
Derby election mongers, is worth about 50 15
Of our money-an extra dollar or so being
thrown in when hard swearing is required.
Respectable men. tradesmen mechanics and
operatives came forward aud confessed that
they had walked backwards to window or
glass door. through which the price Of their
political opinions (about that of hat) was
slipped into their hand by an unseen Mephsto-
pheles In some cases four or five hundred
intelligent householders would club together
and sell themselves en- bloc to the highest bid
der Of the candidates-fve hundred English
men for six thousand dollars cheap bargain,
as things 60 Others, again, whose principles
were proof against bribery in the shape of cur
rent coin Of the realm meelly suffered their
political preiudices to be washed out with
copions draughts of strong beer and after the
malt had done it, work to be led passvely to
the hastings.
Such is purity Or elections" in England
Lord John Russell and a icW other determined