Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-11-23

IT is held that frequent elections
tend to purity in government. This
may be true in theory but, after fair
test in America, We find them DANA
ging to the people. They not only
serve to retard development but they
entail serious loss to business of every
character. The farmer, the mechanic,
professional men and all suffer and
suffer alike. This is so, because of
the uncertainty felt as to the policy
of the incoming administration. No
man knows or can know what new
theories will be put in practice,
especially since political platforms
are made only for party purposes
and to last and be of binding force
only during an election campaign,
and especially since it is impossible
to tell to what extent the promises of
candidates will be observed and kept
if elected to the position to which
they have been nominated. Every
thing is doubt and uncertainty.
Capitalists hold on to their cash not
knowing what investment will escape
the affects of new legislation or, to
what extent the general exchange of
the country will be promoted or in
jured. Large manufacturers become
timid and apprehensive and, for a
time, at least until the elected are
inaugurated and their true course
definitely ascertained. they curtail
their business to the punishment Of
operatives dependant upon their daily
toll for bread, to the injury of the
producer the price of whose products
becomes less by reason of decreased
demand occasioned by curtailment
in manufacturing, and to the extent
of general derth in almost all COM
mercial affairs.
Pending this period there is gen
eral stagnation, general want of bus
mess confidence and a universal
looking for in every branch Of enter
prise which unnerves, makes afraid
and produces injury we'll nigh i'm
in every conceivable bus
mess interest Of the whole land.
That this is 30 no one doubts who
has had the experience Of manhood
and the capacity to rightly observe
and, because it is true, the monied
cost of elections is truthfully ex-
pressed in billions.
Beside the monied cost of elections
and their expense to business enter
prise and industry there is another
and most potent reason why they
should he less frequent and that is.
they are damaging to morals. to
society and to truth. They are at
tended with shocking corruptions.
vile ISLANDERS. dangerous frauds and
Infamous untruths. For months
the day on which they are
held the pen of the writer is dipped
IN the gall of calumny and paper is
soiled until it's very presence is made
noisome to decency, Obstructive to
Ill good taste and hurtful to the
refined conscience Of men. Political !
orators mount the stump and with
burning words of eloquence seek to
impress upon their auditory that all
out themselves and their own are fit |
subjects for the penitentiary rather |
han for the preferment they seek.
PERSONAL hates are created and sec
ional prejudice is famed and fos-
cred until + PLURIBUs UUNUM
,ecomes a hollow mockery.
DR.. Talmage in speaking upon a
inbred subject. lately, mentions
mong the "enemies of the ballot
OK these very things and makes
eservedly prominent defamation of
haracter. ssHe asks. "Can you find
ut from the newspapers when two
len are running for office which is
he best? How often in the autumn
al elections the good man is de-
ounced and the bad man applauded,
D that you can come sometimes to
-