St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-12
A NATIoNAI, oUEsTIoN.

Representative HOLMAN, whose rep.
utation rests principally upon his ability
for Directing to Objectionable measures
when brought before congress, has
added new laurel wreath to his chap
let of fame. Mr.. HOLMAN objects to
the use OF money in elections, and in
order to give force to his objection
offered resolution the other day, in
structing the judiciary committee of the
house to investigate the matter, and to
report to congress such bill as would
remedy the evil Upon the principle
that the wicked flee when no man pur-
sueth, or that cats take to the wall
when a brickbat is hurled into the
midst of feline congress. scarcely
had the clerk finished the reading OF
Mr.. HoLMAN'S resolution when several
Republican members were on the floor
with amendments, objections and other
devices to prevent a consideration of
the resolution. Under the iron-clad
rules which the house has adopted for
its government, the most that MIR. HoL-
MAN could do was to let the resolution
go Oh file and bide his time to get it up
for consideration. A person needn't
be partisan to see the force OF the
HOLMAN resolution or the propriety for
considering it at this time, In fact. the
less partisan man is, the more apt
he is to see the force OF 1T
and to appreciate the necessity
for considering such resolution. Ii
the present congress did nothing else
than to take up this HOLMAN reSolu-
ton and adopt some measure that would
secure the country from the evils which
flow from the corrupt use of money III
elections, it would immortalize itself.
The corrupt use of money in elections
is not only great and dangerous evil.
but it is growing one. The time was
within the recollection of this genera
ton when, if a candidate for office used
money to promote his election, he was
awfully careful to keep it a secret; for
he knew if the fact were made public, 1t
would promote storm of public indigna-
ton that would make his defeat certain
and overwhelming. Unfortunately, we
have passed out of that modest and
honest stage of political conditions.
Now the candidate who doesn't eXpend
money TO secure his election is soon
made to realize that he has no business
being in the political field. 1t has come
to pass that in presidential election the
close and doubtful states are considered
by the political managers to be mer-
charitable material, and all the political
parties stand in the market place bid
ding for them. Nor are these things
done under bushel. They are done
openly, and in bold defiance of public
sentiment. There is no fair-minded
citizen who will not admit that the out
look for the republic is discouraging
indeed, if these things are to continue.
Why, then, should an investigation of
corruption in elections be thought to be
beneath the notice of the national con-
gress? Or why should members of that
body object to proposition looking to
an Investigation of this subject? We
hope that the bulldog pertinacity for
which Mr.. HOLMAN is famous will dc
him and the country good service in this
instance. he has laid his hand to the
pillow, and let him not look back until
the work of election publication is COM
pleted. 1t makes no difference who is
hurt, or what party is exposed by the
investigation. Let it go on. This is
not question affecting individuals or
parties only; it is one that touches the
very life of the republic. There can be
neither strength nor stability in re-
publican government whose lawmakers
are afraid to expose corruption. The
turnpike road of history is paved with
the bones of dead republics that were
destroyed by the corrupt use Of money
in elections.