Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1882-06-09
A SHARP

has been used lavishly in certain cleo
tions in Nevada. That the "sack" is a
potent factor in all elections throughout
the United States must be admitted.
The alleged buying and selling OF votes
in Nevada has given our State the unsa-
worry regulations OF the rotten borough"
It's a dirty bird that fouls its own nest
and if we knew that such were the fact
we prefer to stop short of the avowal that
the price of office in Nevada is not merit,
but money. If this be true, let strangers
publish it and enjoy the scandal If they
will. Ii we are not falsely accused, our
lips should be closed by a sense OF the
shame. General Grant hardly appre-
ciated the awkward attitude in which he
placed his host at Belmont when he
toasted him as MIR. Sharon, the United
States Senator of Nevada from Califor-
MIA, who carries Nevada in his vest
pocket j. P. Jones, in his somewhat
notorious speech before the Nevada Leg
stature. in which he thanked them for
e~lecting him to the United States Senate
for his present term, felt it incumbent
upon him to say something about the
large sums of money which were reported
to lave been spent for his election. He
embraced the opportunity to assert that
millions of money may be dlsbursed in
a political campaign legitimately and
without corruptlng voters. 1t would
be the part Of charity to presume that
Mr.. Jones was honest in this expression.
But we have no controversy with him,
and whether he is right or wrong has no
special bearing on the purpose of this
article. Mr.. Jones apology, if good for
himself, however, would cover the al
legged expenditure Of money for campaign
purposes in the last Senatorial election.
At best, if everything charged on either
side be granted, honors would be pretty
easy, in this respect, between the Re-
publicans and Democrats of Nevada.
The only difference is, that if there is
any sin in our politics, the Republicans
have sinned most frequently.
But there is a vast difference between
a mans using his own money for cam
paign purposes, let the act be never so
reprehensible, and the means adopted by
the Republican Congressional Committee
for extorting money for election schemes,
which was so thoroughly aired in the
SENTINEL yesterday. In the latter case
money is paid ont for Government ser
vice, a portion of which is demanded
back by the party in power for political
purposes. 1t is one way of whipping the
devil around the stump. But it is a
clear case OF robbery. The peoples
money is thereby stolen FOR the pur-
pose Of perpetuating the Republican
party, reeking already with the filth of
untold frauds and corruption. The
United States is indirectly plundered
for this purpose, and the taxes that
Democrats pay are drawn upon to con-
fer upon their enemies and the enemies
of the people a still longer lease of per-
nicious life. Extend the principle to its
legitimate conclusion, always holding in
mind the overwhelming power of money
in politics, and it is plain that the peo-
pie may be debarred by this scheme
OF voluntary contributions" from ex.
crossing their will in the Government
soreyer. They are literally made slaves
10 ring bosses by the agency of their
W money. It is a CALLING and dread
iuI yoke, and the longer this practice
Of taking money out OF the public
treasury for use by a political party is
tolerated, the harder it will be to shake
it off.
Ii an individual spends money lille.
Ultimately to secure his own election,
1t Is vicious and demoralizing and ad.
mlts OF no apology; but his act is
not one OF robbery. He does not put
his hands into his neighbours pockets
and slyly steal money therefrom to
further his ambitious projects. This is
what we charge the Republican party
with doing. Through the circular "
scheme Of their Congressional Commit.
tee they put their hands into the treas.
ury Of the people and rob them by in.
direction Of millions Of dollars for purely
partisan ends.