The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-13
nEIEEEN IN ELECTIONS.

BRIBERY IN ELECTIONS.
Many years ago, Macaulay in writing
T. Randall. the biographer of Jefferson.
accounted at length, in the spirit Of
g.. ophecy. the various dangers TO which
ne thought The stability of our political
lad social institutions would be expos d
% the course of time on account OF a
vast Increase in our population and an
uormous accumulation of wealth.
tie predicted that stronger govern
nent would become necessary to re-
train she revolutionary and sociallslic
.pirit that must inevitably arise as the
asbs ia cur society grew moro d.
gides and as the sinister and dlscon-
.euted classes among our lower orders
welled IN numbers.
We DO not think that as yet we have
,uv reason to be apprehe nslve on most
{ :he grounds which he named az the
.ources of future peril to our country
4 national Commonwealth that could
lass safely through the frlghtful stress
IF the greatest civil war in history
must have clements of strength that
will preserve it from destruction
for long while to come.
Subsequent to that trying period
there are TWO events that throw con-
hrmatory light on the capacity of the
American people to govern themselves.
"a d on the ability Of universal sulfrae e
[, a .scriminale rs to what is sound. ard
., reject what is merely specions. how
ever seductive aud alluring. We refer
% the ignominous consignment to limbo
1y the popular voice Of the proposition
% initiate our currency that was sought
10 bee carried into effect during the adj
uiui.tralion Of Grant. Probably a
more tempting appeal was never before
made to the material aspirations Of a
,sople. and it was made. too, in that
period Of excitement and expansion
hat followed Tie war, when all things
e. med possible 10 Americans.
oar second reference is to the com
1Ioie elimination by one popular eltc-
.Yn. of Henry George as a political fac
or Of Importance in this country. in
ite Of o party organization and his
own ingooious exposition OF his enticing
neories. Properly enough he has retired
Euroie as better field for the propa-
t,tion Of his peculiar ideas, aud let US
nope that he will iemain there perma-
neltly.
While there is much to sustain the
,plmist in thinking that our present
institutions show every sign OF indeii-
ite en- iulance, yet there are certain
.iouds appearing on the horizon that
Ie calculated TO create feeling OF the
greatest uneasiuess. The growth Of
corporations in this country in personal
aud pecuniary power. the spread Of vast
aud unscrupulOus mOnOpolies that defy
The authority of the people, the accu-
notation of enormous individual for
unes out If all general proportion TO
the distributed wealth in private hands
all these things are suggestive of an
u0healt, condition Of things.
But % Us the most morbid sign of
4 ease IN the body polite is the open
use OF mOuey in our elections, aud lis
US, in such volumes as to include IN It's
ev.l scope a very important part of the
American population. The cOrrupting
influence Of corporations and mOnop0-
lies has only extended to our Legisla.
lures. which, in general, are not held IN
the highest esteem by the people at
large. but bribery in elections reaches
the Individuals of each community; 1t
casls 1t shadow over the fireside aud
stalks into the most private apartments
Of The house. 1t is like poisoning the
milk that the child sucks from ITS
mother : breast, or the water that we
drink. or the bread we eat.
Far and wide extends the impression
which the improper use of money IN
our elections makes, and it involves in
i,s folds every element that goes to CON
,ututc the general fabric of society.
Unless something is done to check this
malignant influence. it will introduce
the most irresistible forces Of decay
into she very heart Of our social and
political life and lead us to inevitable
ruin.