Connecticut western news., 1888-11-21
WEDNESDAY,, NOV. 21. 1888.
THE NATIONS PERIL.
BRIBERY AND FRAUD INCREASING
TAe Remedy fer the Evil.


 The Remedy fer the Evil.
 The increase of bribery and fraud at elections threatens to undermine the very foundations of our government, yet one encouraging sign of the times is the fact that many in each party, and ffom every tation in life, are becoming greatly alarmed for the safety of our free institutions and are anxiously enquiring what can be done to prevent fraud, stop the purchase of votes and insure the purity of the ballot. Another encouraging sign is the fact that the ladies are now also agitating this vital question, and they are truly in earnest and are determined to use all their influence to prevent the buying and selling of votes. No great reform either in religion or politics, was ever accomplished without the aid of woman. She was "last at the cross and first at the sepulchre," and now she IS found in the vanguard of political reform. We may withhold the ballot from her. but we cannot prevent her welding . powerful influence in. elevating the franchise. She stands shoulder to shoulder with our noblest men in edu- eating public sentiment to higher plane regarding the franchise.
 If we wish to purify stream we must first purify the fountain, for stream never rises higher than its source. The fountain of all political virtue is the rank and file of . party, not it's officers. If the rank and file are corrupt, then unprincipled politicians and dema- gogues come to the surface and become its own chosen officers. We must edu- cate public sentiment and when public sentiment frowns on both the buyer and seller of votes then we shall have . pure ballot.
 In agriculture we reap whatever we SOW but in politics if we SOW to the wind we often reap the whirlwind. The masses must be educated to see the suicidal policy of selling their franchise. The purchase of votes is . result of our nominating men whose chief qnalifica- ton for office is fat pocket-book. At our primaries and conventions we gener- ally cast about to see who is the most available" candidate, the one who is willing to expend the most money to secure his election. We do not hesi- tate to nominate men whom we well know will purchase votes, and then during and after campaign we con- demn them for doing exactly what we intended and expected they would do. The purchase of votes ehould be rigidly tabooed but we merely dub it "practi. cal" politics. As our elections are now conducted there is certainly but little honor in being elected to any position however prominent. Then what must we expect from the encumbent of any prominent political office !? Must we no, expect he will be on the alert for an opportunity to secure at least as much money as his election has cost him II he will buy votes to secure his election will he hesitate to sell his own vote when corporation or ring want favors or some special legislation in state ol national assemblies Can we expect to have righteous laws at the hands oi such lawmakers? |? And must we not blame ourselves for nominating and electing such lawmakers ? Let each elector be true to his own conscience attsfd the primaries and refuse tt uominate or support candidate wht will purchase yotes- We can thu purify the fountain and then the stream must necessarily be pure. We mus initiate the sterling qualities, unswerv . ing integrity and patriotism of ou forefathers, of whom it is truthful, said {:
 In our grandfathers' days, when man raj 2 for ofice
 He did it alone for the national good,
 And not for the dollars and cents in hi
 pocket
 That Is something that now-a-days ism
 understood"