The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1884-02-09
CORRUPT INFLUENon or MONEY.
cleveland Leader Feb, lstl

The growth Of corporate wealth and
strong combinations Of private capital
throughout the country, threaten 10 sap
the foundations Of public virtue ana
ruin our free institutions. The corrupt
ing influence OF money In English elec-
lions has become a matter OF world
wide not0riety, and II is an alarming
fact that the custom is finding ready
imitation In the United States. The
Will OF the many IN fast being superae-
ded by that Of the select few, aud
scarcely IN election, national, state or
municipal takes place, which IL mol car
fled largely through the use OF money.
Corporations ana combinations repre-
senling private interests, readily EN-.
bark III this c0rrupting work, and sub,
stitule their dictum for that OF the pub.
lie. For years tho state OF New Jersey
groaned beneath the sway Of the old
Camden u Amb0y corporation. The
managers of that corporation made
Governors, Legislatures aud Courts. lts
successor, the Pennsylvania Company,
governs through tho same corporate IN
iluence. The dem0raliZlng means
used 10 govern elections enter
into the choice OF Senators,
ANA there are men now holding
seats In the highest Legislative body OF
the country, who are the servants and
representatives OF gigantic corpora.
tiOns, and not Of the states from whence
they hail, The Lower House OF Congress,
too, aa we'll AZ the several state
Legislatures, IN filled with those
who either represent corporate power
or some single interest with wealth
NJ its command, Az natural result OF
this state OF affairs Legislation Ia shaped
10 meet the Views Of the cOrrupti0nists
aud hot 10 subserye the public interest.
In Washington,
we discover an organized body OF distil-
lera aud others, with the means OF cor
rnptiOn In their hands, seeking TO have
the government loan them seventy or
eighty millions OF dollars for the next
two years by extending the bonded
period for that length OF time, Rail.
road corporations also nave their lobby
at the national Capital, with view to
preventing the cOnlscation OF unearned
land grants, aud gigantic telegraphic
corporation Ia engaged In lighting
against the proposed government tele-
graph. Through these vast mOnOpOies
and combinations money will flow like
water, ana many u man who went 10
Washington poor will return laden with
tho sp0lla OF corruption. The people OF
the country are well convinced that
millions Of dollars were stolen from the
treasury by q combination OF mall con-
tractors aud public individuals, and yet
the government was p0werless against
the cOrrupting influence OF money 10 &C.
cure their conviction. We might 40 on
and bring out many more OF the blacker
shades OF this picture, but II IL needless.
Enough has been already said 10 con-
vince the most skeptical that the coun-
try Ia being endangered by the use OF
money IN politics and 10 promote or do
feat legislation affecting corporate or
private Interests, That there are legiti-
mate expenses 10 DO borne In every elec.
ti0n We are free 10 admit, but there IL
nothing honest In the wholesale bribery
Of voters aud the purchase OF election
judges, Unless this growing evil IL
aiken In hand and eradicGted the time
viii come when public virtue and Re-
publican institutions will both become
things OF the past,
The rule OF the Republican party has
introduced this condition Of things.
Their policy has been TO protect" TO
promote "tho growth Of corporate
wealth" aud ITO sap the foundations OF
public virtue and ruin our free institu-
tlOns.'
The lobby nj Washington, with their
numerous schemes Of robbery, has been
peculiar TO Republican rule. Tho Star
route rObboriOs referred TO lie at the door
OF Republican officials In tho Postofllce
Department at Washington. The Dem.
ocratic party arrays itself on the side Of
reform, civil service and revenue 70.
form.
Prominent men In the Congress OF
late started In few years ago, poor
ana though living lavish while holding
olllcc, have managed to become mil.
ll0uaires. with such men politics pay.
II Ia no wonder that Thaddeus Stevens,
in referring 10 this state OF things, said
he mOurned for hls country when he
witnessed such evidences OF decay In
public virtue.
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