Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-08-18
TURE TIE RAScALS OUI.

ceeded in a vigorous way to show who
the rascals are and to get up evidence
of their rascality. The Dorsey reve-
latiOns came first and told of bribery
and corruption in elections on larger
scale and more systematic plan than
this nation, and probably the world
had ever known before. Dorsey is a
thief, prescribed villain who having
lost the esteem of all decent people
has been ostracised by his former as
sOciates. HIS unsupported statements
had little weight because he is not
worthy of belief and was supposed to
be actuated by motives of revenge ;
but the very fact that such a man had
been leading spirit on the Republi-
can executive committee was in itself
suggestive of corrupt practices. But
the indefatigable Sun has not left the
ex-Star Reuter- unsupported, and has
produced other testimony that not
only cOrrObOrates what he says, but
makes further and fuller revelations
of the organized and carefully man
aged villany by which Indiana was
carried for the Republicans and Gar
field elected President. The Sun of
the 10th inst contains statement
from Republican office-holder which
it says it has in its hands in the form
of an affidavit, the name being with
held for the present. This statement
tells how the money was sent out
from the Republican headquarters at
indianapolis where Dorsey, Dudley
and New presided, and how the sys-
tematic bribery was carried on. He
says that Swain was there as a person
al representative of Garfield and COM
municated with his chief several
times a day by telegraph or mail.
Dorsey, he says, "was everything in
that campaign" and George c. Cor
ham was his zone trusted lieutenant"
Dudley and New "were on the ground,
but their work relatively amounted to
little" The particular and immedi-
ate functions of the party who tells
this delightful story were "thc Organi-
zation and control of the parties of
strikers, roughs and repeaters brought
to Indianapolis from the East and
distributed in small gangs at different
points in the State" On one occasion
Senator Don Cameron visited the
headquarters. He carried a small
black satchel in his hand in which
was $4,000 contributed by the manu-
facturers of Pittsburg and other capt.
talists in Pennsylvania. He was glad
to hear that the prospects were so
bright for the party III Indiana and
said he brought "sOme valuable rein
forcement." The money was kept III
the three drawers of black walnut
bureau in little room in the New
Denison House, and not less than $3.50
900 was expended.
Another confirmation of the story
comes from Stephenson, the New
York banker who Dorsey says paid
out all the money used in the Indiana
campaign. He made the confession
last winter TO gentleman in Wash |
ington whose guest he was at that |
time. He left his bank in New York |
and went to indianapolis at the solic-
itatiOn of Mr.. Arthur, who said it was |
of the greatest personal interest to |
him. He guarded all the funds in |
the little room spoken of and paid out |
money on orders from Dorsey. 1t was |
diSbursed to certain chosen leaders
in various townships who i'll their
turn distributed it among the pur-
chasable element
The wide spread corruption in poll
tics which these revelations have
brought to light is as alarming as it is
revolving. If such practices are to be
tolerated the ballot box is a farce and
pnblic offices had rs we'll be auctiOned
of to the highest bidder This whole
sale purchasing Of votes is far more
dangerous than corruption among
1t brings disgrace upon the
nation and threatens the very exist
anCe of the government Corrupt
can be turned out and
punished, but when the ballot box,
which is the very pulse of re-
public, becomes Initiated, there is no
hope for the nation. A speedy and
radical remedy should be applied to
this great and increasing evil and the
honest masses, the unpurchasablc vot-
ers, are the physicians III the case. 1t
devOlvcs ON them to frown down and
stamp out the viscious practice.
Purchasing votes has been disgrace
fully frequent i'll local elections of late
years but the Republican party is
the only national organization that
over undertook such dirty work.
That party went into the bribing bust
ness with systematic regulation. Pur-
'llASlllN NbltS Wis NlAt NiiitA AiiNsAilS ~
to carry the election and
drilled gang, diflused I
throughout townships, counties and
tatcs and controlled by the National
Executive committee was organized
or the purpose. There is no doubt
hat Garfield himself knew what
means were being employed; all the d.
leaders were into the Sc
ret, and Arthur was the man who
elected Stephenson to run the bank
n Indianapolis There was no vital "
ON which the party could
ely to give it victory and, being jeal- :
us of its hold ON power, it resorted to !,
-aud and corruption. 1t has become "
purifying mass and must 90. Y
Whether or not the Democrats "
-ould give a more honest administra- !
on, the Republicans have shown :
lemselves unworthy of trust and -
,ould be ousted. The first step in Id
,e way of reform should be 70 turn "
nj these rascals. Purifaction is wha;
10 country needs. In addition to =,