Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-28
A VOICE FROM THE DESERT.

A VOICE FROM THE DESERT.
 Senator Edmunds has cast his eye over the political field, and like one crying from the wilderness he raises his voice against the prevailing evils that have come within his vision. In the Forum for June he talks of things as he sees them, giving a very pleasant impression of his powers of observation and a very unpleasant feeling that the senator lacks the moral courage to raise his voice where it might be expected to do some good. If he would rise in his place in the United States senate and speak as he does in the Forum he might be credited with a truly honest desire to do his share in etfecting a reformation.
 Senator Edmunds. after alluding to the temptation that is always strong to buy votes where the contest is close. assures Us that ''it can be assumed to be an undisputed fact that such tempta- tion has been yielded to by the active managing agents of both the great political parties." During the last
 
 than $5,0O0, ,00O was raised and expended for what are called political purposes, and, making ample allowance for all legitimate outlays, there must have been very large sum remaining that was spent in a way which both the laws and the general moral sense of the ma tion condemn" As the law in Indiana, as interpreted by Judge Woods whose name has since been prominently men, toned as candidate for the United States supreme court, did not condemn the way followed by Dudley and Huston, we can only infer that Senator Edmunds is more hopefully visionary as theorist than he is practical as a legislator in his desire to make this condemnation effect ual. AS it has been admitted that the tariff barons of Pennsylvania alone raised several million dollars for repub- hcan campaign expenses, Senator Ed munds' arraignment of the republican party may be accepted as authoritative and decisive, coming as it does from an acknowledged leader in the party.
 Senator Edmunds, however. is of the opinion that lin all these evils, manifest as they are, there is no reason to despair believing that '.an aroused sense ofpublic justice and public safety will eventually bring about a remedy. In his judgment there is need that we should ''emancipate ourselves from partly fealty or zeal sufficiently to deter mine" to make ''the we'll springs of true liberty the chief consideration, and in his confidence that such will be done he shows the faith that might be expect ed from true mugwump. The senator has some suggestions to make which he thinks will be in the line of remedving the existing state of things, such as im- proved registration laws administered by responsible men taken from all parties; privacy of the voter and secrecy of the ballot publication of full ac- counts of election expenses provision for prompt decision of disputed ques- tons by the courts; effective penalties for bribery and false registration, and more perfect scrutiny of naturalization processes.
 There is little probability, however, that the practical politicians" of the republican party, men like Quay and Dudley, Steve Elkins, Clarkson and John c. New, will be seriously disturbed by Senator Edmunds' reasoning so long | as that is confined to magazines. If the senator could sound his warning from the hustings and from the sacred precincts of the senate chamber he might be expected to effect step in the direc- tion of a remedy that no amount of mag azine theorizing can be supposed to ac- complish. Will he rise to the occasion that has presented itself to his judgment and observation? We fear not. for Judge Edmunds is nothing if not re- publican partisan with whom the success IOf his Darty is after all tho ol;oe ,,, T :.,