The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-07-20
Use of Money in Politics.

that it menaces the perpetuity of the
American Republic. The San Fran
cisco Cali, truthfully says that when
elections can be carried by the use
OF money there is little use in hold
ing elections. A political contest
would only be a battle of money
bags, aud it w0aldmake little differ
ence to the people which party
would win. Within the last twenty
years we have changed our mode in
this respect. Money is openly used
now for purposes and methods that
would not have been tolerated before
the war. There is a great ado made
in certain quarters to preserve the
freedom of elections, bnt the same
parties find nothing Objectionable in
an outright purchase of voters. The
large sums now expended in cleo
tons are required for no other pur.
pose. The legitimate expenses of a
campaign are comparatively trifling.
A corruption fund is set apart for
close Congressional and Legislative
districts. A United States Senator
is secured perhaps by q liberal dis
tribution of coin pending the cleo
ton of a Legislature which has the
choice of a Senator. It is found
much safer to buy candidate and
promote their election than to buy
members after they are elected. The
vast interests which are subject to
legislative control, render this use
of money a profitable investment.-
It's not believed that votes can be
openly purchased in the United
States Senate, but it is pretty well
known that certain men are sent to
that. body with tolerably clear in.
structions as to the course they shall
pursue. The evil is one that grows
by what it feeds upon. The use of
money by one party is made an ex-
cnse by the other for resorting to
like practices. 1t is urged that sue,
cess isimpossible unless the influence
OF money is Offset with money
There are two apparent results from
this condition of things: First the
people will lose respect for elections
that are determined in advance by
the longest purse; second, only, rich
men, or plant poor ones, will be eli.
gible as candidates. The simple in.
tegrity that characterized American
legislators in the early days of the
Republic will disappear under the
new dispensation. A very rich man
will seek political honors as he would
any other luxury his riches enable
him to afford, without regard to his
fitness for the Office he proposes to
cucumber. In other cases service
able men of certain order of ability
will be selected with an open under
standing that certain designated in.
terests shall be served. Statesmen
cannot grow under such conditions.
The incentives which inspire men of
real brain to devote their time to
public service will be lacking. There
will in fact be no honor to gain in
public life. The men who have be.
come recognized as American states.
men constructed the ground work
OF their fame in the minds of the
people. At nominating conventions
they were not confronted with the
question of how much money they
would put intolthe campaign fund if
they were successful. They developed
policies, argued great constitutional
questions, or in some other way de-
monstrated their capacity for public
position, and went before the people
on their merits. At present the con-
trolling consideration in comforting
nominations is financial. One can.
didate has money of his own which
he is willing to spend, and another
is put forward by parties who have
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