The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-04-17
Corruption.

The corrupt use of money In poll
tics has grown to be a vast evil in
this country. In many of the states
the result is determined by simple
sizing up of the amount of the cam
paign fund on both sides, and it goes
inevitably, like Napoleon's battles, to
the heaviest battalIons. The largest
pile polls the vote. The evil is ex-
tending, and 1t now pervades the
caucus, the primaries and the con-
ventions. Our whole political struc-
ture is saturated with it. 1t is uni
versal, all-pervading curse. 1t has
always been the boast of the southern
ers who go north, and who have built
up homes in northern states, that the
evil of corruption is unknown here.
So it was, a few years since. But
alas we cannot longer urge the
claim. Before the war, the simple
suggestion that it was possible to
purchase either vote or a nominal
ton would have excited universal
horror and surprise. Corruption was
unknown. Our leading and best men
were in politics, and they were too
proud to do such dirty work, or to
permit others to do it. Our politics,
while they might have been full of
prejudice and selfshness in many
ways were yet financially clean and
pure. Men were too proud to owe
an election to any other influence than
personal merit. A popular election
which did not represent an untamper-
ed with popular choice was of no val
ue whatever. Men would not sacri-
flee personal honor for personal sue
cess. A mighty change has come over
the country. With the destruction of
slavery has disappeared much
of the personal Importance of
individuals in the south. AS that
has receded and diminished, so has
diminished the esprit du corps" of
our public men. They now, as do
their brethren north, tamper with the
ward hummer. The election agent
gets his regular per cent. from the
campaign fund, of which he is the too
willing almoner. The prize of pop
ular election by the people is worth so
much money. The pay and perqui-
sites represent a possible profit of so
much, and the aspirant is willing to
pay SO much for it. If it is
more than the place can pay
honestly in regular salary. the
deficit between the cost and the out
come is to be made up by the corrupt
use of the vote and voice he will en-
joy in the legislature or in congress.
If the place is a bureau one its reve-
nues must be sEillfully detected to
the pocket of the officer to reimburse
the outlay and supply the rate of pro-
fit originally contemplated.
This is no fancy sketch. 1t is, alas
too true-too ruggedly and horribly
true. The comparative freedom of
the south from this vice has served to
maintain a sort of equilibrium and a
semblance of decency in the public
service of the nation. Now, when we
go into the business of corruption,
there is no hope. When the
south copies the bad modes of the
northern corruptionists nothing will
clean up the ruck short of revolution
If some competent remedy is not
soon applied, revolution is inevitable.
1t is astounding to stand by and see
the vast amount of money now
! flowing through the channels
Fof political corruption. See
the vast fortunes built up upon
the purchased privileges and immu-
mites which are the corrupt office
holders stock in trade. The tariff has
built up race of iron barons before
whose glittering wealth the aristocra-
cy and even the royalty of Europe
stand in humble alteration, and gov
eminent contract or a post leadership
or Indian agency is nearly as rich a
mine of wealth.
Now it is one of the distinctive
doctrines Of democracy which teaches
purity, cleanliness and economy in the
public expenditure. This is to be alb.
rogated as the News would abrogate
the two thirds rule, or as the Post
would the other article of democratic
faith which declares that tariffs shall
be levied only for revenue. When the
source is corrupt then will the stream
also be foul. If we can maintain the
purity of the masses intact we can
control the officials, but when both be-
come corrupt only cyclone of bloody
revolution can sath~ de- the least good
Let the people say if they will longer
be bought and sold as dumb driven
cattle, and risk the desperat e alterna.
tive.