Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-09-07
SOMETHING OF A SERMON.
Millions in Election Only Demoralize
the People.

Fen Times that In New YOrk-NO
Charity or Votes i'm It-An POmp
and Emptiness.
In 1860 the editor of the Philadelphia
Times was Chairman OF the Republican
State Committee, and PennsyIyanis was
the pivotal State of the great national con
test. The success Of the. Republicans in
the October struggle of that year settled
the national battle and made Abraham
Lincoln President. The State Committee
organized the party in every election dis
trict, had the ablest speakers in every Sec
ton Of the commonwealth, twice made Q
careful estimate of the whole vote of every
election precinct, and the entire amount
OF money expended was $12, 900, of which
$4,000 went for renting headquarters and
halls and So, 900 for printing. The entire
expenditure of the State Committee in i 1860
would not now pay ordinary and inciden-
tai Office expenses Of the committee of the
same party, although the vote Of Pennsyl-
vania Is not now classed as doubtful, and
the committee's expenditure national con-
test, full ten times the expenditure of 1860.
What causes have thus multiplied the cost
of political campaigns in q State that is not
regarded as debatable2 And if the cost of
campaigns has thus multiplied in undis-
puted States, what must be the cost Of
campaigns in disputed and controlling
States?
If the startling increase Of the cost Of
political campaigns wa. confined to the
headquarters of parties. it might be re-
garded as tolerable; but with all the lavish
waste of tens of thousands at committee
headquarters, the cost Of campaigns has
increased even more recklessly in the rank
and file of the party. 1t has been an
nounced as one Of the hopeful signs of the
activity and enthusiasm of the Republi-
cans in this city and that they will organ
ize, equip and parade 20, 900 uniformed
men for marching in the campaign. Has
anybody ever deliberately calculated the
cost of such campaigning? II not, is it
not time that somebody should do it
The organization, equipment and march
ing OF 20, 900 men as occasion may call
them out for three months, including
music, fireworks and the many other in
evitable expenses Of public demonstra-
tions, will average not less than $50 for
each man, or an aggregate expenditure Of
81. 000, 900. This is estimating only the act
ual cash cost Of the modern political cam
paign in one city and in only one party;
but who can measure the indirect cost
that must be added to such reckless ex-
penditure? Who can count the value OF
lost time, the value Of lost love Of indus
try. the value of lost sobriety. and the
value that would atone for the general de-
moralization that is inseparably connect
ed with q campaign that draws at will
upon the time, industry and pockets of
| 20, 900 active men?
And what the Republicans do in the way
of campaign extravaganza. with their
5000 Office holders and 10000 dependents
and expectsnts, the Democrats will initiate
as far as their greatly lessened resources
will allow. They can't organize, uniform
and march with music and torch any 20,-
900 or 10, 900, but they will doubtless strain
as close to 5000 as possible, and thus
| pinch and pull $500, 900 more as tribute to
the prevalent political campaign extrsv-
agance. Some OF the same men in both
parties, will go around when chill Winter
| shall have succeeded the thunder and en-
| thusiasm of the election contest, TO collect
money to feed the hungry, clothe the
naked, warm the freezing and minister to
the sick, will now go around to inspire
the waste OF a million or q million and a
half, in empty or ineffective party parade.
In their present mission, they appeal to
party enthusiasm, to the cupidity Of the
| vensl, and to the ambition OF the weak,
and they gather liberal reward; but when
the 25, 900 men of both parties shall have
expended their more than a million dollars
on the mere pomp of politics, and one or
other OF the parties shall have succeeded, il
will be a hard task to raise q tenth of the
political expenditure for the relief of the
| poor, among whom will be many who ap-
peared in shining plume and shield OIL
political dress parade.
And when these vast campaign expendi-
lures OF party State committees and OF
party parades are footed up in their start
ling totals. only g part of the cost of the
| modern political campaign Is ascertalned.
The average cost of q Presidential campaign
in each precinct, for ordinary precinct
| pur pos is not less than 500 q precinct
| for each party, or a total Of Sl50,OOO. To
| that must be added the expenditure OF not
less than another 500, 900 by the respec-
| tive city and ward committees; then must
be added the steady stream OF political
| strikers who compel general, ward and
| precinct committees and candidates to
| stand and deliver to the tune Of tens Of
tlOuHhDue, auu w VI 10 thS
| heavy contributions levied upon business
men of both parties in this city, who will
be lucky if they escape with $3.50. 900. The
ofice.holders, big and little, are bled twice,
| thrice or oftener, as reckless extravaganza
grows upon party managers, and when all
| shall be footed up after the November
| election, the cost Of increased idleness and
| generalization and the stagnation OF legit-
innate business.
And when all these 50, 200, 900 or more
4 of cash and all the decentralization in in
| dustry and business shall have been
| counted after the election, what good will
either party or the nation have to balance
the cost Will the marching Of $4,000
| plumed and battle-sxei men have changed
or gained 100 votes? Will the expendi-
lures of the respective committees have
compensation in victories thereby
achieved Will the price of the hummer
and striker be visible in the party major
ityP Will business or industry or moral
ity be bettered by the sacrifice? These are
questions we'll worthy the attention OF IN
telligent, sober men Of all parties before
the fame of battle is upon them, and I'M
less political campaign extravaganza and
decentralization are to be encouraged IN
their now fesrfully rapid growth, the bet