Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-12-06

business, ana prepares MIN Tor fraud
and corruption.
gambling did nothing more than
corrupt trade and render it uncertain
and improbable, it would be bad
enough, but it sinks its poisonous
fangs deeper into the body polite.
1t tears out the very vitals of free in
situations. 1t corrupts the only safe
guard of self-governing people
the ballot. Liberty cannot exist in a
democratic country unless the ballot
is pure, or at least free from the con-
troll of corrupt men. Gamblers do
not care for political honesty; their
only sesire is to gain money. When
it is possible for such men to influence
the popular vote, it is absolutely GER
tain that they would not hesitate to
do it. Theywill contribute largely
to corruption funds. They will bride
voters and intimidate the weak, or
steal and falsify returns, in order to
win their bets. This alarming evil
is growing more and more defiant.
Bribery goes UNPUBLISHED, and lifts its
impudent head and cries fraud. Both
political parties are so thoroughly
corrupt that honest people dare not
vote for fear they may support bad
men. 1t is getting to be so that no
office in the gift of the people is safe.
Office is no longer given, but bought
and sold. Money is the controlling
influence in every election. Even
our judges are not free from the poi
sonous influences of gambling. What
will become of us if this rust contin-
ues to waste the iron nerves of the
Republic? What can be done to
check the ravages of this dread con-
tagion? What can patriotism do to
hound down this wild beast that is
preying upon the life of the nation
Partisanism is blind, fanatical, and
sadly and hopelessly debased. We
cannot hope for reformation by blind
ly following political demagogues.
In vain do we appeal to justice and
law, while judges and jurors are
themselves guilty of the crime they
are asked to punish. In vain do we
hope that patriotism will rise up and
smite to the earth these base offend
ers, while fanaticism blinds the eyes
of patriots. We must sink party
spirit, or party spirit will sink the
country. We feel deeply the need Of
strong, swift, and terrific blow
whereWith to overthrow and crush to
death the demon that is now choking
the life out of liberty. Openly,
shamelessly, and defiantJy, gamblers
are manipulating the affairs of this
nation. We have seen for years that
no election can be carried by an hon
est man without the help of money.
1t is against the interest of gamblers
to have honest men in office, and
hence they always combine to defeat
them.
A few years ago betting was done
quietly, if not secretly. Now it is
widely advertised in all the leading
papers of both parties. Even tenn
perance reformers resort to bribery in
order to carry elections. Reformers,
indeed! We write what we know
when we say that even temperance
men use money freely in order to ac-
cOmplish reform. If there is any
new party needed in this country, it
is an anti-bribery party.
We do not believe the heart of the
Nation is corrupt. The evil of which
we complain is only a dangerous dis
ease that is seeking the heart Of the
country. 1t is only a spot on the
great sun, but it threatens to blot out
the light of liberty. We call upon
Christians everywhere to unite in
trying to check the spread of this cpl
demic that threatens utter ruin unless
it is arrested. We do not believe
that strong drink, awful and terrible
as it is, is doing half so much to de-
stroy this country as the traffic in the
elective franchise. The one is a de-
creasing and the other a growing ca
lamity. The one seeks to destroy the
country little by little; the other
aims to deliver the nation, bound
hand and foot, into the hands of an
archy, having Invested freemen of
their only means of defense.