The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-06-12
@attbman & Suurnal.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE y, 1889.
Corrupt Political Methods.

"The lessons of history and the fate
of free states can never be sufficiently
pondered by those upon whom so large
and heavy responsibility for the main
tenance of rational human freedom
rests" With the statement of this
pertinent truth Senator Edmunds be.
gins, in the June Forum, an impressive
discussion of the questions, "To what
extent is it wise and proper to reward
political workers? How can the use of
money in elections be suppressed"
1t is clear that Mr.. Edmunds is not dis
cussing these questions from the pes
simist's point of view. His mind is not
one to be stricken with pessimism.
Nor is he man to waste his time in
chasing a will-o'-the-wisp. His mental
faculties are in too healthful a condi-
ton and his time and energies are too
actively and usefully employed to admit
of a suggestion that, in this article, he
has been devoting either his mind or
his strength to the occupation of an
alarmist. Evidently he is convinced
that, to state it mildly, "the business
of politics is too often chiefly carried on
by those whose ends are purely per-
sonal," and that "the development of
corrupt means and methods in respect
of the election of the lawmakers and
of the executors of the law has at least
kept pace with the growth of popula-
ton and material advancement in our
favored republic as well as elsewhere"
He is not one of the class that be-
leves the world has grown worse and
is in decadence, but finds that in spite
of all the light, advantages and i'm
provements of the times the choice of
public officers continues to be in an
increasing degree greatly influenced,
and often controlled, by something far
other than an idea of the general pub
lie welfare" This happens particularly
in states and districts where opinions
or purposes are closely balanced and
the hope of some personal gain in cash
to a small percentage of voters suflices
to turn the scale, and the general result
is greatly influenced by the expectation
of few active workers that, " if sue
cess shall come to their side, they will
receive places of power and emolument
as the spoil for which they commended.
A ton of work plus a pound of fit
ness equals So, 000a year" In popu.
lar government the real judgment and
opinion of the body of the people are
supposed to control the selection of
public officers, whose duty it is, under
the law, to put in force the general will.
But if enough votes are bought and
sold, on one side or on the other, to
control the result of an election, there
is no longer any effectual public judy
ment or opinion; the republic is to
fare well or i'll according as a COM
modity-the bought and sold votes
happens to have been more largely
purchased by one party or the other;
and this commodity thus becomes the
controlling force in the making and ex-
ecution of the laws. Briefly stated,
these are Mr.. Edmunds' premises.
In the way of particulars, recent
presidential elections are cited in which
party divisions in several states have
been so close that the purchase of a
comparatively small number of votes
could easily turn the scale, and it can
be assumed to be an undisputed fact,
the writer says, that the temptation to
purchase votes has been yielded to by
the active managing agents of both
the great political parties. A similar
temptation in such cases has also ex-
cited and borne its evil fruit in false and
illegal registration and in false returns
of votes actually cast. Mr.. Edmunds
speaks of the dull moral sense that
would justify such practices on the
ground that great interests of public
safety and welfare are at stake. Others
seem to consider politics as kind of
warfare, and the opposing party pub
lie enemy whom it is justifable and
praiseworthy to overcome by practices
that are allowable in war; and persons
who hold these views of politics and
political methods consider the places
of public trust and emolument as the
spoil of war, and themselves, as the
leaders in such methods of strategy
and combat, entitled to the largest part
With great clearness and with Judi.
cial impartiality Mr.. Edmunds has re.
viewed unpleasant phases of recent pc
litical history. If the prevailing politi
cal methods are defensible, he says
they should be fully discussed and made
known, and if they are good for the re-
public the neOnle Ouuht to he convinced