The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-01-11
Friday. Jan. IL, NS9.
The Money Power III Our Politics


both parties plnDged themselves in the late
contest for hs1eontrol of the pivotal States,
uttered Singing sentance-"It is the
Pharisees who are doing this. 1t is men of
prominence and responsibility who raise
thsGe large sums Of money knowing the use
Mat they will be put to /; men who deal
openly in corruption one day and go to
church the next"
Judge Gresham was one of the leading
candidates before the Republican National
convention held at Chicago, which finally
chose General Harrison as chief standard
bearer for the party. Judge Gresham pos
sesses those sterling qualities which endear
the candidate to the masses when they be-
come known. The expression above quoted
seems characteristic of the ruan; TO boldly
and brayely denounce whatever he believes
endangers the public interest and public
safety. On one occasion when railroad
case was being tried before him in which
some of Jay Gould's dirty work was brought
out, he expressed the opinion that this rail-
road freebooter ought to be in the peniten-
tiary. When Judge Gresham became a
prominent candidate ofthe Republican party
for President, it was reported that Gould
threatened to spend million dollars to de-
feat him if he received the nomination,
which is only another evidence Of Gould's
fealty to psrty-proyiding always that his
selfish interest is not endangered.
Contra to the above crisp opinion Of
leading candidate for the nomination whose
public life is without challenge, we cite
the Philadelphia Press as representative
authority. and type of that class of poll
ticians which are for party right or wrong,
and that class is dangerously numerous.
The Press of December LIST contained one Of
lis most elaborate articles under the caption
of "a New Departure in Politics" This
leader was considered more than ofordinary
importance, evidently, as the country press
was supplied with copy of the paper con-
tanning the article marked. The article
opens with the following announcement:
1.-THE recent Republican national canvass
had some features of organization and direc-
ton which had never before been tried. 1t
had its business as we'll as its political side.
The two elements co operated with remark.
able unity and efficiency, and their union
gave peculiar force and character to the
The Chicago convention authorized the
National Committe to appoint an "Advis-
DRY Committee" The Press confines:
s'Chairman Quay and his associates made
their selections with great care and judg-
ment. They decided TO constitute the
Advisory Committee wholly of representa-
tive business men everywhere known for
their high character and personal standing,
and SO to give the business element new
force and position in politics, with all Of
the higher tone and better influence and
greater responsibility which this involves.
The Committee thus came to be made up OF
such leaders in the business world as John
Wanamaker and Thomas Dolan of Phila-
delphia, james Seligman, Cornelius N
Bliss, H. X. Thurber, H. o. Armour, VIM.
L. Strong, John F. Plummer and Augustus
Koun,ze of New York, w. HI. Russell and
William Whitman of Boston, II. Clay
Charles P. Taft of Cincinnati, S. w. Aller-
ton Of Chicago and others of like standing"
These men represent that class of business
men who rank as merchant princes and
millionaires. What advice does any
one believe that Quay wanted of them of
any value to him in running political
campaign? This committee for ''adpisory"
purposes was nothing more than figure
head, whose individual and collective vanity
was fattered by being brought before the
public in SO conspicuous manner, and TO
give the enterprise tony effect. Large
sums of money were needed to conduct the
canvass according to the plan laid down.
This ADVISORY Committee" was made up
of millionaires and representatives of that
class, whose money was wanted and not
their ADVICE, as the Press puts ii. Having
honors thrust upon them they were bound
to give literally and their ''set' feeling it
was the thing to do would also shell out
handsomely. In fact having been so con-
spicnously and prominently placed before
the country as committee whose wisdom
was to he consulted in managing the cam
paign, it would never do to let it fail for
want Of funds. Here is the whole secret
and use of this advisory Committee" any
one of whom was about as competent to
give Quay points in campaign strategy, as
one Of the trades people Of Paris was to teach
Bonaparte the art of war.
The figure head committee was no doubt
6aitered by the political prominence. given
them and the assumed Difference to their
judgment as business men," but every
newspaper account Of the campaign which
has spoken, il mattered not to what party
Il fifUfess;sd SdielsnHs Eas But repealed ID