Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1879-11-20

Chas. E. Casseii ....Editor.
&. L. Root.
THURSDAY. NOV. 20, 1879.
4 Crying Evil.

Tue lulIcSb COLudeICo lo Jul PcSu'oA
American institutions; we are i'm
pressed with the idea of their super
excellence, over and above those Of
any other nation in Christendom and
the experience Of older dynasties have
proven nothing to the contrary.
Our experiment of one hundred
years has more than justified the pri-
NAL risk, for it has reestablished in the
sequence Of nations, the idea imbod'
led in the grand Roman Republic and
has pro ven that as it was under Dem
ocratc rule the very acme of all that
was great and glorious in contempt
raneous governments, so ours is the
essence and embodiment of all that is
great and good among the nations OF
the nineteenth century. This appre-
citation of the good on our part has its
countsrbalance under the law Of COM
pensation, for, as we are tho better en-
abled to appreciate the excellent, we
are in the same ratio, enabled to APP
preciate the base and unworthy. That
we, in our system of universal elective
franchise, do have some practices that
"are smelt above the moon" is state
ment Of fact, that becomes only the
more apparent, when viewed in the
reflected light Of the noble practices
of our own special political economy.
The vilest outrage that is perpetra.
ted on the democratic theory Of our
government, theory based upon the
sublime idea that the free choice Of the
people, expressed at the ballot box,
constitutes the only recognizable, Di-
vine Right, is, that of the unbridled
license in the use Of money at our
elections. That there are Legitimate
uses, to which money may be put in
our elections, we acknowledge. That
there should be judicions distribu.
ton of political information both by
print and by word of mouth, prior to
every election, necessarily involving
an outlay Of money, we confess to be
wisdom. All money expended for
the purposes of enlightenment Of the
voter, has right to rank in honor
with the public school fund orcollege
endowment. Far are We from decry-
ing this method Of employing election
funds, but when it becomes the meas.
ure of mans moral abasement; when
it becomes the lever, by which minor
tiles are lifted into majorities and
when the results Of an election are
made to depend upon the result of an
auction, then it is that we are ready
to cry for shame
"Shall we now"
'contaminatc our fingers with b, :. bribeS?'
II had rather be u dog and bay the MOON"
THAN such Roman
The amount Of money appropriated
by the various candidates for election
on our County tickets, at the last cleo
ton, added to the private sabscrip,
tions applied to the same uses, will, we
are assured, amount to the magnificent
sum Of $4,000. Allowing a liberal es-
innate for the legitimate expenses al
ready referred to, we have at least
$1,000 out of the original amount left
for other uses. Nine tsnths Of this
amount is used directly to debauch the
voter by the purchase OF his vote
Think of it! You who, by yonr silent
acquiescence yield tacit consent to
practice, which, if your most intimate
friend were to accuse you of like
transaction in your business inter-
course with men, would make Of you
his eternal enemy. Ponder over it,
and reconcile it with, morality, relig-
ion or intelligent political economy,
if you can. Should you do so, it will
be very interesting for US to study the
logical course Of reasoning that leads
you to your conclusion. We desire
it to be understood that we have had no
intention to become personal in the
above discussion, but that we have alb
stracted the idea and discussed it hon
estiy and earnestly without special
reference to any one, but to all, to
whom it may be applicable, we say it
and mean it.