The daily gazette., 1883-02-21
pail Gasette
wnMISoros. wEDsEsDAr. rER Al.

A Republican Paper Excusing Bribery by
It's Own Party on Account Of the As
sessment Laws.
The Morning Ne'ss to-day has a great deal
to say about the "bribery at elections bill. :"
as 1t calls It, aud In the course OF q column
editorial argues that the cause of bribery In
this State is the present law govern
in the assessment and collection of taxes.
1t excuses men who sell their votes under
what is to It such pernicious system Of per-
secution, and places the whole evil and tine
great burden of wrong-doing at the doors of
the Democratic party. 1t charges Senator
Baysrd with framing the law, and the Dem
ocrats with being responsible for corrupting
the voter, who under this horrible system
have to take Democratic money to vote or
not vote at all.
Nothing could well be more ridiculous
than the position of this elevated moralizer.
In the first place, Senator Bayard did not
frame the assessment law, but he has taken
occasion to defend it; aud Mr.. Higgins, who
Is recognized by the Neps as the leader In
Delaware OF the Republican party, (snd by
the Republican party in Delaware as the
leader of the Nelcs), has paid one of the
highest tributes possible TO that system.
Republicans have time and again admit
ted that the law was a most excellent
one, and even after coming out OF cam
paign, in which they have assailed it for
being the most infamous device known in
the land for the Acknowledgement of voters,
hauo aHrnttfaI that ha fav,tf vryffh
the statute, not with the men who carried 1t
into effect, but with the voters themselves,
who did not take interest enough in public
affairs TO pay their taxes as good citizens
should. Now, in view Of this, is 1t not the
most arrant twaddle for the organ to take
the position It does
But the most striking part Of what the
Nees has to say is near the conclusion Of
the editorial. Here, after charging that the
law Is so bad that citizens are disfranchised
by the Democrats, aud that to Offset this the
other party is driven to bribery-this is the
only construction the article will bear--it
says
Is 1t any wonder that men become artful
and knayish under such system Human
nature is none too good at its best; bu
when the laws are corrupt when thu
statutes Of a State are framed and executed
for the express purpose Of defrauding the
citizen becausee of his political convictions
are you going to content yourself by ex
pressing surprise and modification at tht
weakness and wickedness of the individua
and say nothing about the law Are yot
going to punish the child for lying or steal
ing when you yourself have taught him
This is too much like Fagin reproying on'
of his "leetle poys" for picking pocket
Probably such position as this has neve
before been taken In this State. The organ
charges that the law is infamous, while it
leading political adviser has declared it t
be a good and fair one 1t says tina
the Democrats are enabled to dc
pTive citizens of their votes, while II
party leaders say it is the faul
of the citizens themselves. Having don
this, 1t goes on 20 make the shameless el
cuse for the wholesale vote-buying In whic
its party has engaged: that the effect of whi
Is 1t calls fraud has to be offset by the mo
corruptng of all political practices. Probi
bly, nothing would suit this queer reason'
better than the repeal of both the assess
ment law and the bribery law. That
what we will expect to see it advocatin
soon.