Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-09-28

CoRRUPTIoS IN ENGLAND.-BRInEzr AND
YENALlTY IN CHURCH AND STATE. Garlic
ton" the reliable and intelligent cJrrospon-
dent Of the Boston Journal. now in England,
writes as follows Of crying shame and DIS
grace Of the British political and church
system:
Under this district system strange things
sometimes take place, as is revealed by inqui-
ries instituted by the election commission ap-
pointed by Parliament to investigate the alleged
abuses in the late elections for members in the
towns Of Yarmouth, Ryegate, Lancaster and
Totness. The papers are filed with the sicken-
Ing testimony, which shows that in Yarmouth
nearly every yote was purchased. Nothing vas
done in o corner 10 be kept secret, hut the bri-
berry was open to public inspection. Banks
were made depositaries Of bribery funds, where
the voters drew their checks in the most ap-
proved mercantile msnner, and where the
agents, csnyassers, tsps,ers and runners pre-
scented their drafts and received their funds In
Totness two clergyman Of the Church Of England
testify without shame thst they each received
500 for their votes
This brings US to the worst features Of the AZ
fair, for it shows that the debauchery Is not on
y
disease is not on the surface, but IN the blood
One Of the Yarmouth witness es testifos that the
bribery On the one side was regulated by that
On the other. - If the Liberals offered SIS, we
instantly came down with $50" says this tory
emplOye, with the utmost innocence Of having
done anything worthy Of reprcach. One con-
scientious Yarmouth witness says that he re-
ceived Sl5 from the Liberals, and as the Tories
sferwsrd offered him SO be accepted that also,
and then divided his vote or in ether words
voted for one Of the Liberal candidates and for
one Of the Torres Ingenious man Shrewd,
but honest Ii did not occur TO him that there
was anything immoral in that transaction
Every body was taking money FOR their votes
Men Of high standing in society were paving
money for votes. The principal bankers in the
town, the men OF mercantile integrity. were
agents for the disbursement Of election money.
In all past elections the same thing had been
done; therefore, to the mind Of this simple man
there was nothing cut Of the way il accepting
money for bis yot,, although his conscience
would net quite let him desert the Liberals after
taking the Sl5.
Corruption is inseparable from the English
political system. 1t is also iuseparabe from her
church polity. fou can purchase anything
here. London is the greatest market in the |
world. Bunyan must have had this grand ba- |
Iaar IN view when he portrayed Vanity Fair
You can purchase 4 commission in the army, a I
seat in Parliament, or, II you believe in the /
thlrty-nine articles, you can get living in the /
Church by paving for il. The BISHOP who con- |
firms you in your Christian faith can sell you q /
pulpit. The Young scape- grace who Is sick Of |
the army will sellyou his sword and commission. I
Everybody seems to have itching palms-Bishops /
and beadles alike
Read the following WOris from the illustrated I
Times Of to-day Without a good supply Of |
money says that paper, " no man can hope to |
get into Parliament as representative Of an Eng
lish county or borough; ard even then, II .
seems as natural to him that IN officer should I
buy his commission az that he himself should 4
have bought his senatorial honort In
England the money influence at elections can
scarcely be oyer-estmatei. It is 20 great, that
considered in connection with it, the personal
influence Of men Of position and family, however
il itself, becomes positively bene-
hcisl-ss poisonous drug msy be beneficial
when administered as a corrective or as an anti
dote''