Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-01-26
GEORGE FRANCIS TRAr,
N ONEY IN POLITICS.

Governor Gray, OF Indiana, in his
Message, says the fact that large sums
of money arc expended at every clec.
tion to corrupt the officers of the olco.
tion boards, and bribe the voter, is
having very debasing effect upon the
public mind. In my judgment the
Republic cannot live long in the at.
mosphere which now surrounds the
ballot-box Moneyed corporations, to
secure favorable legislation for them.
selves, arc taking an active part in
elections by furnishing large sums of
money to corrupt the voter and pur.
chase special privileges from the Gov.
ernment II money can control tho
decision at the ballot-box, il will
not be long until it can control its ex.
istence. 1t is a notorious fact that the
people are fast losing faith in the pur.
ity Of our elections. The ballot is the
foundation upon which Republics rest.
When the people become convinced
that the decision Of the ballot box no
longer expresses their honest judgment
they will cease to vote and take an in.
terest in the election. When that con.
dition Of affairs arrives we will be at
the beginning of the end OF our free
institutions. The casting of the ballot
is the most sacred duty that the
American citizen has to perform. He
who is clothed with that sacred pre-.
rogativo and values it no higher than
q privilege to be bought and sold,
ought to be dispossessed of it entirely.
The man who expends large sums
of money to secure an office is likely
to try and reimburse himself while in
the Office. He who makes a false count
OF the ballots and falsifes the record
or does any other act that unlawfully
defeats the judgment Of the people at
the ballot-box, is an enemy to the
Government and commits treason
against 1t in a less manly way than
the man who openly defles its power
and fires upon its flag. In the latter
case there may be honesty OF convic
tion, at least courage, but in the for.
mer there is no redeeming feature
| am not unmindful of the fact that a
representative fern of Government
has nothing upon which to rest except
the virtue of the people, and unless the
people can rise to purer plain of po-
litical action all laws looking to the
purification Of the ballot will be futile.
| have yet confidence in the people,
and believe that the number who bar.
ter away their privilege is small, but
that it is q growing evil none can deny.
The laws upon the statute book are
seemingly sufficient yet will venture
to recommend the enactment of law
authorizing the institution of a civil
suit against any one who shall offer,
give or receive bribe the penalty to |
be dislranchisement for any determin.
ed period. In that case the guilty |
party will not be deprived of bis lib.
erty at all and a preponderance Of the
evidence will be sufficient. The law
should be made broad enough to cover
every kind of transaction. Such as
the giving or receiving house rent, ei.
forts to employ, or threatening to dis.
charge from employment; or to give
better positions, or the use of any other
improper influence with intent to con.
irol or be controlled in casting the
ballot. The corporation which, to in.
luence elections or control Legislators,
md thus debauch moral sentiment,
'hould forfeit its franchise.