, 1875-02-12
THE IlIGHT TO VOTE.

Is It a fs3cssinE or n Cnf1o9
To the Editor cf The Chttago Tribune: ~
CHICAGO, Feb. G.-OulBile tho ranks Of tho
professional politicians, don't think man ca1l
bo found who will douy tho proposition that the
Governmental machinery of this country, from
the Federal Legislature down to the Boards OF
Supervisors of counties and townships, Is cor
rupt and rotten to ths last dcgrco Of decomposi-
tion. 1t il not nccesnary to adducc proof OF this
assertion. Tho papers arc filled every day With
authentic accounts Of bribery, corruption, and
fraud. II Ia writteu In letters Of lvid light in
all the literature Of tho day. Tho bribery and
purchase of the Federal Congress is go notorious
and so common that it tales moro than half tho
time Of o11e session to unearth and discuss tho
frauds Of Tho preceding session. In fact, this
seems to bo tho main business Of TINT btancll OF
tho Government first se1ling itBef, and then
trying to tint out who bought It. And tGia thing
fuus down through all the minor Governments,
tho stato Legislatures, tho County Boards,
aud tho city and township organizations.
In fact, wherever there is General,
Municipal, or Local Government, class Of
mon havc gathered about thoao centres, whose
sole business it IL to sos how much of tho pubic
funda they can appropriate-1 could have said
ssoal, but that would indicate more vulgar lar
cony. These mon don't steal l-they are above
tLat,-thoy only make appropriations.
It Is nnotorioua fact thatnot moro than one-half
of the money collected from the pooulo in tho
shapo Of tsxos Ia applied 10 tue legitimate pur-
| poses for which taxes arc ioved tho other hall
is either stolen outright. or .akon by tho plum
| dererB by indirect methods, which amounts to tho
sAtaa thing. It ID not nacessary to go outside OF
| tho City OF Chicago to prove this assertion.
Every taxpayer knous it, and fecls that fully
ous.half Of the money no paya Tor the PurPohes
ntSs1u n
| tho pockets Ut set Of dopradators whoso sole
object In life il to got his money without any
equivalent.
Is il = wonder that people roaist tho payment
Of taxes Is,t singular that mon decline to tho
| last moment, to cast their money iuto tlIis tot-
tornless pit callod the City IIeastry2
Appointment local politician, now occupying q
high position in tho State Government, has tbs
ASSURANCE to hold, and boast OF " too, that
"Tle political organizations Of the country are
tho Legitimate subjects Of plunder and that 1t
is proper md lawful ol,}cot Of pursuit to OBJ
tain al much OF the public money % poaalbla
TINT tho organizations are mado for this purpose
aud the man who does hot ayall himself Of tug
Opportunity is fool f." :; md no justihos bimseli
BY saying TINT, II he don't get tho money, sumo
body else Will. -.--.-.
meuts exhibits tho low STANDARD of political
morality which now prevails In the country.
1t Monld seem to bo timo now, II It could Dc
done without offending that numerous class o'
,
to govern the country aud make Oh honeat llvlIlt
by doing nothing to suggest the esuao OF thes'
evils md provide = remedy. -
/ Tie cause ls readily to DO found IN that mix
: tire of folly mad fraud chlled "uniSsraa
sufIrhGe;" aud tue remedy IL ut onte RuggoBtss
ty providing mems Of its ntter and final abo!'
tlOn. Upon this question, tho timely remarks 9
Tue TarnusE on Educational sa1Iage" shoa
: for they furnish tho solution OF the deep
ent and prufonudest problem OF the centnr!
Whcu th,a country shall meet itH doo1n, and IA
as other nations have fallen. u WI not Dc
q reached upou any OF tho questions Witch nov
t occupy tho attention Of pontioIans; b,s, "ho
tho slip st,lkes tho sunkon roek, and Is hhatterc
into fragments, the resf which c*aBed tho Wfcc
: will bs found laleled "unIyoEsal onlrsge.,
. No grester critne WAS ever committed AEaind
:. social order and good government than the IN
d PRODUCTION OF this petniclous principle. 1t
= nothing moro nor less than placing III the hsnd
Of lie sguorant and the vicious the power 10 tnl
r tfe oJucatod and tho good. The natural or.lt
d o9 th,nva il exactly reversed, aud tho mob make
10 tbo State. The idea that every. man ma
+ participate In making tue laws under which
10 lives ia theoretically right, hut practically wroni
10 for the reHson that the majority who vote an
x rule have aol tho slightest idoa what Law Ii.
., Wien this country waB hlst started on Il
id voyage OF discovery it was m ideal ltopuoll
u besesi upon intelligence aud education. II
y men who originated rho dovorhnont anl forrnt
T. The Constitution Intended them for people, VII
of ooud read and write the Enyish laoenaSo, AZ
of had somo knowledge OF What uoYerualon
wore made for; aud, at that time, education W
tho rule, and ignorance tho exception. Ih'
IN had no conception Or ,dea that In less tLan
Ut century, tue country would be oyerrnn q
~ tiootted With tho ignorant scum of Europe, vt
ty would drown out und override our own popui
il tion tak,,g to themselves tue relnf Of po"e
70 and usurping tho functions which beluuB
IT. iutol1igouGe alnne. .... ~.
D. 10. this !,as BEEN the result, aud our prote
y vicious systa,n IL tho natural consequence oi q
extension OF tho right tu yote,-a right erant
,is irrespective Of nny qualiaca.lon u&ecpt that Il
cA ! voter be malc cltlzca ali has the physit
ty capacity to deposit poce Of paper In tue ball'
Ell box.
ID. In speaking Of tho ignorant population OF E
ut rope, don't moan to be understood - sayl
~ | that any 1afliuB or pTelualca 9hoolt % ent'
! tanned against any msu Oh oecount OF his blEt