Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1883-11-28

A COOP Political MovE.-Our system
Of popular voting has been scandalized
from time to time by the most unblushing
political corruption. Men have been
bought like SO many cattle in market at SO
much per head. We all know the corrup-
tiol that has characterized the elections in
our State for years, and the recent election
in Maryland was attended by shameful
use of money, in some of the counties the
purchasabls voters amounting to 40 per
cent of those going to the polls. Such
elections do not express the will of the peO-
pie but their cash value, and we are
pleased to see that an organized effort is
being made in Dutchess county, New
York, to arrest it. 1t had its origin in this
wise, as contained in New York paper:
"Some two years ago few of the minis
tiers of Poughkeepsie began to NEEDLE with
politics. The politics of that city and
county did not suit them. 1t did not seem
to them Christian and they attacked it.
The parties are very evenly divided there :;
and it was commonly believed that money
would buy any election, and, in fact did
buy every election. We confess, with
shame that the Republican party was gen
orally believed to be the greater sinner in
this matter, because, while it was claimed
by the Democrats that they had the nat
ural preponderance of votes it was also as
serted that the Republicans had the pre-
ponderance of money, and by using it as
the political managers knew how, could
and did carry the elections. The aforesaid
ministers were, as is almost matter of
course, Republicans but that did not
blind their eyes to the fact that the trade
in votes is unchristian, and that it must be
put down.
And so after some pulpit denunciation
a Political Reform Association was formed
of citizens who were willing to put down
bribery. The management was half Re
| publican and half Democrat. Perhaps the
| Democrats were more numerous and earn
est than the Republicans They made
! some arrests last year, and more this year
| This year they engaged large number OF
! PinkertOn' detectives, had them sworn in
as officers and directed them to prevent
| bribery as far as possible, and to arrest any
who were fagrantly guilty of the crime
| The result Is number OF arrests, which
have made noise heard far beyond thu
limits of the county.
" As it happens that those arrested are
all, or nearly all Republicans, it is prob
able that the bribery was chiefly on tn,
Republican side. Nevertheless the party
papers of this city are not at all clear tina
the Association has done the right thing
They say it is very suspicious that Demo
Gratis are so active in the management
that some of these Democrats were, few
years ago, quite familiar with the way tha
the committees in which they were promi
nent disposed of the doodle" and tina
the arrests are all of Republican offenders
They have very cold words of praise t
give to the Association, and not a few in
situations of partisanship.
But surprising that there were fifty cor
rupt Democrats and fifty currupt Republi
cans, an equal number of each and that pun
CATION has taken place solely in the Re
publican ranks; is that matter to b
pleased with or to regret? Which hous
ought we to be most glad to have cleared {
vermin. our own house or our neighbor'S
Why cannot every other county in tn
State have its Political Reform Association
Why will not thousand ministers in on
various cities and large towns, where
they will inquire, they can get the fact, an
put them in their Thanksgiving sermons
Why will they not organize their Reforl
, Associations and let us have league
, such associations which shall be a NOR
, power in our pOlitcsY'