Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

AIDS TO 1.-THE NATIONS PERIL" Editor of Ne,rs:
 I read your article under the caption. "The Nations Peril" and also that of M. H. Dean, under the same caption. You both call our attention to the evils which beset our electoral system in consequence of failure to protect the right of suffrage from those who seek to control or corrupt 1t for their own ends. MT Dean says, "our pleasure is greatly marred by knowing that the election was not fair and honest one. We have had the election, but do not know the will of the people" The editor of THE NEWS says we have had the election and that ''every intelligent person knows that votes are purchased for both of the great political parties in this country" add all three parties; and all political parties. all newspapers, and l may safely say all voters, admit that money was extensively used to buy votes.
 The Hartford Times relates the nsodas operDadi by which votes were purchased by an organized plan. This being so, have we had an election? You. MT Editor, and Mir Dean also. say "we have had the election" But have we truly had the election? By the supreme law of this nation. it requires free-win expression of the people to constitute an election by the people, and for the people. Now, purchased votes are not free-will votes. The money is the oppo- site of free-will, therefore when it is used, the door by which we should be able to know the free-will of the people IS closed. We must have 8 free-will expression aud not purchased express sion, to establish an election. Money shuts the door against the power that makes our true government, our free will government, and forces upon us 8 false, party government Therefore, I say we have had no election. When an election Is monopolized by an organized trust company, it is not Q legal election. You all admit that votes were bought to most scandalous and disgraceful extent. You all cry out against party corruption. You, Mir Editor, say "the fountain of all political virtue Is the rank and file of 8 party, not its officers" I ask, are you quite sure of that? How much virtue is there In fountain that gives aid to all political corruption? Political officers could have no power whatever independent of the aid rendered them by the rank and file. Then where lies the responsibility of the political corruption? Just what you call the fountain of all political virtue, are the aids to all political crime. And the political crime of our nation Is very great The Hartford Times calls it "Sapping the Foundations" of our once free government, and The Times also quotes from the Rutland Herald as follows: "We must have honest elections, or popular government is a farce" Now this .'Sapping the foun- dations," this making our popular government 8 farce, could not be accomplished by political officers alone: they must have the rank and file; they must have their aids or they could dc nothing. It Is the aids, the rank and file of political parties, that "imperil our nation" and that Is "sapping its foundations" Therefore, our once free government is in melancholy and embarrassing position. It is in the clutches of political parties, and these parties have the aid of what you. Nil Editor, are pleased to term "the fountain of all political virtue" It is in the clutches of party tyrany. Now, fol your ''virtuous rank and file" to aid in taking our once free government from its true foundation. from its serv. ing of the people. whether suddenly ol slowly, and lower 1t to party service, lower 1t to the money power of politi cal trust company, and by so doing, tc place 1t upon foundation of mere shifting sand and mirage, is something more than incongruity; 1t is a base crime that must be answered for Le these aids turn their attention to theil electors oath; that oath which oul government not only allows but require. that all electors shall be true to, in al political action, as before God, not fo party, not for trust company, bu that when they do vote. it shall be don, without fear or favor of any man, O. party. remembering that no selfshnes whatever can be suffered to copflic with, or take the place of the nstiona good, nor to come between a voter conscience and that So help me God. That aeals the question between sidin,