The morning call., 1891-01-17
TIE GREAT EVILS.

ingalls, Of the United States Senate, on
theI4th inst, delivered an Interesting 81 eech
pending the discussion If the Financial Bill,
In which he noticed two evils which threaten
this country. one was election frauds.
The report says:
Beginning his speech with a bitter denunci-
alton Of lie independent politics. he said there
were Two po.tentous evils which menaced the
safety, If LEY did not eudauger TIL existence, of
lie republic. The first was ignorant, debased
degraded, spurious suffrage; SUI. aga cOatam-
uatec 10y the sewage OF decayed nations; SUI
fIdEr inundated aud suppressed IN lie South;
suffrage Impure and corrupt. apathelc aud III
different 10 The great cries Of tile North so that
10 was doubtful 10 his mind whether for half a
injury there has been a Presidential election in
this country chat expressed the deliberate and
intelligent judgment Of the whole body OF the
American people. The Elections Bill was in
Tended 10 deal with one part 0f the great evil to
which lie alluded, but It was an imperfect
partial and incomplete remedy. Violence was
bad, bur fraud was no better, and It was more
dangerous, because II was more lusidiOus. There
could be no safety and 10 stable aud perm anent
peace in This country and under this Govern
Weut unit! 10 was just as safs for a black Repub-
lean to vote IN Mississippi as il was for a white
democrat TO vote in Kansas.
We, In San Francisco, realize that under
boss rule there is no honest expression of the
popular will at elections. Men are invested
with Office oftentimes who ought to be in
the penitentiary, for the conventions are
full Of criminals who nominate them, and
delegates are put in these bodies for specific
purposes by the use of money. What is to
be the remedy for the evils to which the
public have to submit is not at present
known, unless it be the passage Of a law.
for which the Federated Trades and the
Farmers Alliance now ask the Legislature.
Tie second evil to which Senator ingalls,
referred was the tyranny OF combined
capital, which he said the public was now
considering. The American people had
become profoundly conscious that the bal
lot was not the panacea for the evils of
society; that it had not abolished poverty,
nor diminished injustice. They had dis
covered that political equality did not result
IL social fraternity, and that under a
democracy the concentration of greater
power in fewer hands was more possible
than under a monarchy.
In referring to Senator Sherman'S speech,
much of which was devoted to defense of
millionaires, the substance of what Ingalls,
said is given as follows:
The people had suddenly awakened to the con-
cepiion OF the fact that the bulk of the property
Of the country was passing into the hands OF
those whom the Senator from Ohio called by
euphemsm 1.-THE spectators OF the country"
These men had no politics but plunder, and no
principle but the spOliatOn of the human race
1t was no wonder that the laborlng and agrcul-
iural classes OF this country had at last awakened
and the spectators must take warning.
1t is no. strange that Senator ingalls,
speech creates sensation, for it refers to
matter which is deeply agitating the Ameri-
can people. They have seen all over the
country a few men bring their money to
control conventions. They hire the worst
element in the community to nominate
judges who are disable, or men whose
opinions upon topics which will come be-
fore them for adjudication are known in
advance. Those milliOnaires whom Senator
Sherman eXt0lS have no politics." They
purchase the conventions of both political
parties, and their stGolpigeOns are ever
ready TO create diversions in favor of an
American or temperance movement so as to
confuse voters and elect candidates who
Will be most obedient to the behests of those
who struggle for more money. Nor is this
all. These combinations own newsnanare
and their editors body and soul belong 10
them.s Affairs in the United States cannot
remain in their present position for much
length OF time, for the people are too iEtelIi-
gent to permit it. Men combine to put up
railroad freights and fares; men combine
to put up nearly every commodity of prime
necessity. They combine even to advance
the price of the workmen's beer Syndi-
Gates come in from abroad and purchase
great tracts of land, out of which they will
realize millions. But what is more deplor-
able than all else is the bribery OF public
bodles-Supervisors, Legislatures, ETC. THE
CALL believes, however, that there must
soon be an end to frauds, whereby the
whole public ara robbed.