The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1890-06-04
Ti,n,,pi,ts Big the a9dap.

The DANGERS to the republic. recently
referred to in this column are not imag-
mary; they are real. significant dangers.
An ignorant man with great ambition is
always a dangerous man. Any consid-
cradle number of ignorant men, with low
and strong passions, may upon a very
small preteXt be turned into mob. The
fact that large numbers of our people in
different parts of our country, are ig-
nOrant of our laws, of our institutions. of
our history. of other portions of our
country makes the congregation of such
people a danger to be guarded against.
And all the more a danger because these
people possess the ballot at elections.
ttt
THEY ARE DANGEROUS; first, because
they do not know what is right. much
less what is wisest and best for them
selves and the nation; second. because
they are governed by passion and preju-
dice rather than by reason and common
sense; because they are easily led by
the willy demagogue; fourth, because
their votes are easily bought by the man
or party that offers the most money. We
do not have to 60 to some far-off state
to find some of this latter class. In our
last general election men brazenly
offered their votes to the man who would
pay the most. Hence, an education IN
reading and writing alone would not be
sufficient for such debased men without
lessons in morality, citizenship and true
manhood.
In KANSAS two and one half per cent.
of our population cannot read, and near
ly four per cent. cannot write. There
are two states and one territory with
less percentage of illiteracy. There is
no excuse for this lack of the simple
rudiments. at least, of an education.
But ''readin, writin. and rithmitic," are
not sufficient for the education of an
American citizen. We have i'm the
United States eight states in which twen-
ty-five per cent. of the population can
not read; we have nine other states in
which ten per cent. cannot read. We
have eleven states in which twenty-five
per cent. cannot write; and seven other
states with more than ten per cent. that
cannot write. | have not given the
worst, nor shall at this time; but these
figures are significant. The lesson for
us is that we see to it next fall when our
schools open that every boy and girl of
school age be in attendance.
+ I T
MUNICIPAL MISRULE is proving a
knOtty problem in many places, New
York, Cincinnati, Chicago, and smaller |
cities and towns too numerous to men,
ton. The ''boodle gang is always
hanging around ready to sell out. In |
street railway franchises, in street paving
contracts, in street grading contracts and
many other ways by which the alder
men, selectmen or cOuncilmen are pre-
vailed upon to let contracts for many
dollars more than is needed to do the
work, and then share the surplus with
the contractor. This is danger that is
truly formidable. Where cities are large
money is used abundantly, and the OPP
pOrtunities for population are immense.
Causes: first the people are not careful
enough to place honest men in office;
they are more particular about nominat-
ing man who can beat the other fellow,
than they are to secure man who will
be honest from the first day of the cam
paign to the last day in office; second
the people permit their political affairs
to be run by rings and the center of
these rings is the center of corruption;
third, many law abiding citizens become
disguised with the ''rings,'' and the cor
ruption of those in office aud stay away
from primaries and from the polls, and
thus turn the government of affairs over
to the worst elements in society; fourth.
there has tremendous greed for gain
developed in our country in the last
years; it shows itself in de-
falcations. embellishments, peculations.
and to use our pure Anglo Saxon, out
right stealing. where there is a bare hope
of escaping detection. Eageruess to be
rich has ruined many man and home.
tt I
LET US HAVE MEN in Office who will
rule our affairs honestly, who will adj
minister our laws impair TALLY and faith
fully, men who are. always have been.
ard always will be above taking bride.
Let this be done whether your party or
mine is at the helm of our little state,
and we shall see municipal misrule give
place to official honesty, and a faithful
regard for ones oath of office. c
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