The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-05-10
OFFICIAL CORRUPTION.

land. the blind worshiper Of stars and
cartcrs, were 70 ask free-born Amer
lean to point out the controlling factor
In our political system; the power that
brought men into prominence and gave
them the chief places OF the Govern
mont, how would the free-born Amer
lean answer him?
you have no aristocracy OF BIRTH.
the Briton would say. 'therefore II Is not |
social standing that puts men TO the
front in your country. Nor can 1t be
that your successful public men are So
lcctcd from what you call tho aristoc-
racy OF brains; for. according TO the
accounts OF your untrammeed press,
many OF your Legislators and executive
officers are ignorant and incompetent
| They can not be selected for their excep-
tional probity. for this same untram-
meled press imputes TO many Of them
| the most disgraceiul sort OF corruption,
| and they never punish thcir accusers.
as would private citizens who were
/ slandercd. We understand. OF course.
that you have public men who are OF
good standing in the community. and
who arc both able and honest. But
such men are clearly in a minority
among your oifice-holders Now, what
Is the power that lifts the others above
the rest Of your people. puts them IN
place and keeps them therc?''
The American. II he had to answer
truly to such an inquiry, would have
no choice but 70 say:
money. Some Of our public men
get their places because they are rich
and can spend money TO secure them
Others are able to induce their party
to spend the money necessary TO pro-
cure their election. Still Others are
elected because they are the friends.
allies or servants Of rich men. whose
interests are affected by legislation,
and who are willing 10 buy place OF
power for those who will be OF service
: 10 thom Very few indeed are elected
= solely for their fitness and without thu
: use OF money or its equivalent in pat
I ronage.
D II would be hard indeed for a
American citizen. with any pride i
!. his citizenship. TO make this confession
. to an Englishman; but he would hay
Il TO make Il. II he meant TO tell IN
!. truth. We can understand that ur
n der such circumstances. our fellow
y countryman might be sorely temple
y 10 prevaricatc. or even to lie outright
a But whether he lied or told the trutl
= the huniliating facts would remain n
. same.
But perhaps the American citize
il who reads this does not believe th'
ID these are the humiliating facts. fe
80 haps he thinks these assertions are b.
I'd gloomy. cynical. pessimistic general
nc ties. II he does. let him think the 9
ID nation over for himself We will su
%. r,sc that he Is citizen OF New Tor
Let him consider how the municir
government OF that city Is constitute
how the legislative and executive o.
GERS OF the State are chosen. and nc
- the State itself is represented In 4
National Government The most prof
'ly inent officials OF the city are the may
10 and the board OF aldermen. The ma
or is elected By the vote OF the who
OK town. and l.. ~ rule, reputao
a man. 10 be elected, however. he mu
les have the nomination Of his party. an
to all intents and purposes. he mu
nd pay for that nomination BY giving Q
II flee to his supporters. About =
ar board OF aldermen nobody has any d
lusions. II Is mainly composed
'is irrcs ponsible men OF no character
lis many OF them liquor-dealers. Th
inc buy their places with money and pa
ronage. and they themselves, for y
en- most pa I. may be bought singly IA
ich cabbaces or In lunches like radishs
re. Passing TO the State government.
ner will find in tho Governor and the lie
ms islature State mayor and a Str
my board OF aldermen with two house
There are plenty OF honest men in DO
cen houses; but there Il generally a so
ms working majority Of men who ha
md bought their places TO sell thcmsclv'
and who. when they are not passi
cd. bills TO benefit rich corporations at
ASP expense OF the people, are engaged
,et. Introducing bills designed TO dana
ON the tINlt tVIItiaNtVh' 'fft' n -
disappear when their promoters
i've bought on
God But there remains the Natiol
ms. Govcrnm ent. And can the citizen
Of his hand on his heart and say that
Congressman from his district sp'
,od, no money Cover and above his leg
has mate expenscs), either out OF his Q
In pocket or out OF his partys funds,
we'll insure his election? II he can. he
able to do more than the Congrcssn
o, can, unless he Is very remarka
Il il and a very lucky Congressman.
and who Is II who sits in judgment on
her acts Of the Congressman. The Pr
dent OF the United States; the q
= |. Magistrate OF the Nation. And In !
limo the party that elected the Presid
~ openly boosted that II had bought
49,. vote OF tho State OF Indiana
1t, SOAP In 1888 the same party
q nounced in advance, that II intended
Inv the vote or the same State y