The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-01
A Reform That is Needed.

There is one reform for which there is
| far greater need than any other. 1t is
electoral reform. The wholesale way IN
which votes were bought in the late election
| is alarming. There are strong reasons for
thinking that money decided that election
/ in favor of the republicans. Money was
spent by hundreds of thousands Of dollars in
| all the doubtful states. 1t is asserted that
the republicans distributed as much as
$500 coo in Indiana and $1,000, 900 in New
York. If this assertion is true, it is not
difficult to understand why those states
gave republican majorities. AT the average
price paid for votes, thousands of votes can
be controlled by sum which the monopO-
lies can be easily induced TO contribute.
If money is to control national elections,
the rich men will rule the country They
will elect whom they please. and dictate
the laws. They will see to it that greater
protection than ever is provided for their
monopolies, and their wealth will increase
as their monopoles are strengthened.
In an interview, printed in the Philadel-
phia Ledger day or two ago, Judge
Gresham, who was strong candidate for
the republican P Residential nomination,
said, in speaking Of the purchase Of votes in
Indiana: There ought to be a reform i'll
our state electoral system, and unless the
states take steps to stop the cor
ruption at the polls a condition of affairs
will be produced to which the civil
war will not be Circumstance. II is the
Pharisees who are doing this. 1t IS men of
prominence and respectability VINO raise
these largo sums of money. Knowing the
use that they will be put to; men who deal
openly in corruption one day and so to
church the next 1t is these men who
bring disgrace upon the state You may
convict hundred yes, even thousand,
obscure voters for bribery, but the effect
upon a community would be as nothing
compared to that which would follow the
conviction of one prominent man."
Judge Gresham will probably have a
chance to expound the law in the case Of
one prominent man charged with corrupt
ing voters. Col. Dudley, who, it Is alleged,
wrote the infamous circular letter TO the re-
publican workers of Indiana, directing
them to divide the floating voters into
blocks of five, and promising them all the
money bHSy HeeuSu, Will pIOudDlJ DC III
dicted by the United States grand jury at
indianapolis If be is, he will be tried in
Judge Gresham's court. Let us watch and
see whether Judge Gresham Till act as
bravely as he talks.
But who are the Pharisees to whom Judge
Gresham refers! Are they not the good,
rich men like Mr.. Wanamaker and M
Carnegie. How much did each of these
gentlemen contribute to the republican cor
ruption fund? 1t has been widely published,
and never denied, that Mr.. Wanamaker
was one of the largest contributors to the
$500, 600 which Philadelphia capitalists sent
to Chairman Quay few days before the
election. Did not Mr.. Wanamaker know
that this money was not to be used legiti-
mately! IL he did not, then he lacks the
shrewdness for which he is SO widely cred
tied.
But Mr.. Wanamaker is only one of the
Pharisees. There are many of them. In
the churches, Sunday schools and christian
association rooms their voices are heard
calling men from their evil ways. Would
it not be well for them to begin little
reformation at homes What greater crime
can be committed than that of destroying
the republic by corrupting it's electors.