The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-11-16
Stop Election Debauohery.

1t is possible that political debauch-
cry controlled the late Presidential
election but if it did, it was not for
want of equal effort to debauch voters
by the defeated party. If debauchery
won, it was simply because Quay
possessed greater skill or resources, or
both, than Barnum could command
for both sides did all that was possible
to control the result by corruption
| funds 1t is possible that corrupt eff
forts, gigantic as they were, so nearly
equalled themselves in both parties
that the result was not decided by de-
bauchery bat the fact remains that
debauchery was the rule IN every de-
batable State, and that Indiana was an
open auction for individual votes.
Is this great and steadily growing
political debauohery to continue If
so, it will logically increase with each
national contest, for state or voter
once controlled by corruption funds
will not only always be in open market
bat debauchery will rapidly spread
among the people and require increased
corruption funds for every contest.
And 1t is idle to preach morality to
party leaders. While religious and
moral zealots will freely contribute
money for political debauchery, leaders
will commend it and rival voters will
offer their votes in the msrket-place.
The evil, now colossal in its proportions
can be overthrown only by tearing up
the whole system of Presidential elect
ions by States.
And why should not the people of
the United States vote directly for
President and Vice President, from
Maine to California, and the candidates
receiving the highest popular vote be
declared elected? 1t is in perfect har-
mony with the theory of popular gov
ernment and why allow the expression
of the people to become the plaything
of Electoral Colleges? 1t is not pre-
tended that Presidential Electors exer-
else any discretion in voting for Presi.
dent and Vice resident. They were
originally intended to exercise an in
tellig'nt and dispassionate Judgment
, in voting for the two first offices of the
Republic, but now and ever since the re-
tirement of Washington, Presidential
| Electors have been as positive partisans
as ward heelers, and the whole theory
on which the Electoral College was
. base }, perished before the advent of
the present century.
-Four years ago Grover Cleveland re-
5 ceived popular majority over James
4 G. Blaine of 62,000 and yet change
of 600 votes in New York would have
Q made Blaine President. This year
Benjamin Harrso will have a popular
majority over Grover Cleveland of
probably 5e,O00, and yet change of
i 5000 votes in New York State would
e have reelected Cleveland. In 1884
: the $1,000 majority for Blaine in
l Pennsylvania had much less voice in
t deciding the Presidential contest than
. the 1,l00 majority for Cleveland in
9 New York and now the 10000 ma
. jority for Harrison in this state is much
= less potential than the probable 10000
: majority in the Empire State. Less
t than 400 votes give Cleveland G
Electoral votes in Connecticut and 80
e 900 votes give Harrison only 4 Elec
Il toral votes in Vermont. In Texa.
e 100000 votes give Cleveland Is Elec-
: toral votes, and probably less than
l. 5000 votes give Harrison 10 Electoral
n votes in Indiana.
5 1t is this cumbrous aud senseless
e electoral system that invites the de-
d bauchery OF voters in every close State
d aud it is also constant menace to the
popular will in the election of a Presi
dent. 1t should be promptly olished
as the fruitful parent of electoral crimes
y and as the most threatening oe all the
present perils to free government II
, the people of every State and Territory
:, were author zed to vote directly fol
~ their favorie candidates for President
and Vice President, with the assurance
:, that the candidates receiving the larg
- est number of votes would be declared
:, elected, the dehaucbery of close States
would end at once. What could il
>, matter then whether New York, Con
% necticut, Indiana, West Virginia OF
California gave few thousand more
;. or less for a particular candidate A
majority in a particular State would bt
:, of no practical moment, and the miss
= ions of the professional corrupter o
y voters and of professional traders il
- votes would end Is this not the true
: and safe way for free government t.
;, elect its rulers?
>, A direct vote for President and Vic
10 President would not onl y end the nov
great and steadily growth 10 debaucher,
of close States, but it would end all ap
prehensions of dispute as TO the election
st The closest popular vote in all on
n Presidential elections since the organ
ne ization of the government was in 1886
n when Garfield received about 100
I'd popular majority over Hancock IL
Is all other contests from Washington
I'd down to the battle of 1883, the popula
X majority has been so decidedthat nom
ne could attemptn toassail it. Anolh
ly er strong reasog for abandoning tn
m Electoral Cole is in the fact that
ur has twice defeated candidates 10 WHOM
the people gave decidedly the larges
ou vote. Jackson was defeated in 1872
he when he had $4,000 majority owe
e, Adams, and Tilden was defeated i
lie 1876 when the people had voted again'
IN Hayes by 250,000 majority.
IT Is it not time to end the appallin
'ir political debauchery Of the present ag
as and end all peril to the popular will,b
vs. / -