The Russellville Democrat., 1882-06-15
Reioinder On eFree Passes. :,

some reasons that will be apparent in the course of this article, l deem it somewhat necessary. My friend W. F. W. so nicely "begs the ques tion" and so ingeniously turns the sense of my answer to his former ar ticle into that which was not intend ed that I hardly know where or how to begin-'tis so much like catching flea. The general tenor of the honorable gentleman reply would make 1t appear that l was strenu- ousIy arguing against the ''prohibi- tory free pass law" which was not the case. I was, and am seeking af ter knowledge of the probable ben. eGts of such q law. 1 said before, and I now reiterate that 1 have not the remotest objection to any consti- tutional or legislative enactments T ...gg V iii forever prohibit the accept ance of free pass by any State officer. And l stated before, and now repeas, that the proposition was that the mere acceptance of free pass by an officer was the root of the evil and prima facia evidence of bribery was an assertion that could not be substantiated by unbiased ar gument and logical reasoning. By ''the evil'' is meant the railroad and bonded ring monopolles, and une- qual taxation to which he had just referred. To this proposition the gentleman sees fit to make no allus- ion. l then propounded several questions bearing upon the same point, all of which he ignores, ex cept in an indirect manner.
 W. r. ". says that 1 doubt "the practicahility of such law" I do not "doubt the practicabihty of such law" as far as free passes are concerned, but 1 seriously doubt it's "practicability' in converting knaye or an unprincipled demagogue into patriotic statesman. l also doubt its "practicability" to produce any benefcent effects that will re dound to the interest of the over burdened taxpayers of our great commonwealth.
 ssW. F. W. says that the "force of objections to one of the most whole some and beneficial laws that could be enacted by any state legislature CD are in keeping with that of those who opposed the emancipation pro clamation of Abraham Lincoln" that "they swore that the law could never be enforced" 1 never "swore" or stated, nor even intimated that the free pass law could not be enforced, as far as free passes are concerned. Where then is the similitude, please?
 But do intimate, state, and would even swear (if necessary, that 1 do not believe that any free pass law would lessen the bribery, or the at tempts at bribery of our law makers and executors by the ''monied mon opolies." ;"
 He further says: Also his objec- tions are in keeping with a great many who were opposed to the late prohibition law; they said that the law would be evaded," etc. I say that the prohibition law is evaded. The prohibition law has but very little, if any effect upon those who want whiskey and have the money to get it with; so it would be with the free pass law; it would be evaded.
 The railroad men want to influence men to legislate for them, and they have the money which they can give just as easy as free pass.
 But, my honorable controversialist at length comes to the point (?) and asks me "to point out the code off laws that prevail for the owners of horses and other property to use such property as bribe !" etc. Had l the legal lore of Blackstone, the deep searching philosophical knowledge of IIippocrates or Pericles. the eloquence of Demosthencs or Cicero, and could wield the pen like Milton, l might 'impart the above asked for information" But as Il am "an llliterate youth to fame and fortune unknown" I can only say that such a code of laws nowhere exists, save within the sin blackened recesses of the heart of the treacher- ous, contemptible demagogue, who would sell his "country's blood" tor a free pass" or "a few pieces of sill yer"
 Now, in conclusion, and by way oi recapitulatlon, l will state, in as few and simple words as possible, exactly the position l occupy upon the free pass" question:
 While l have no objections to the free pass" law Gas so often stated), l do not believe that this modus operandi would be in logical keeping with that political economy so nee essary to produce wholesome and beneficial legislation"
 The proper modus operandi is to obyiate the necessity tor such legis- lation by electing men to office of such unquestionable honesty and in tegrity that require no law to prevent them from being bribed.
 The ballot box is the sceptre in the hands of the people of every form of republican government, and if they will wiel1 it proparl,, ,,,d nc.