The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-05
The People Slandcrcd.


As a campaign for the Presidency draws
to a close thore is always much talk about
bribery ind corruption: but this year ii Is
louder than ever. According to Republican
newspapers. II largo part OF tho Kcpubli-
cans are purchasablc. According to many
Democratic papers tho purchasablc Dem
ocratic vote Is equally great
III that is SO. the canvass for the Prcsi-
drncy Is not n contest Of political principles
and policies but II contest OF pockctbooks.
A campaign is most of all a financial enter
prise. Tho party which has the most
money Is the party TO bet on. politi-
cal campaign is n purely business COM
petition. The success OF a party depends
OH tho amount Of money 1t can induce peo-
Pile TO invest in it. The taking Of the votes
OF the people is Il mere empty formality
the result of the election having already
been determined by the comparative size OF
the party campaign chests.
Our elections for President nrc usually
close, and. therefore, any considerable pre-
pondcrance of money on ono side or the
other must settle their result. II this view
Of tho mora! degradation prevalent in each
pnr,y is correct. Tho problem is not politi-
of their comparative ability to raise money
10 buy votes. rho one that can bid tho
highest will win. An election is merely an
auction for votes. All parties arc cor
lUptillo, and the gauge OF success Is the
siz" OF the corruption fund.
If that is 50. this republic Is on it's last
legs 1t Is no longer n Government Of tho
people. 1t il n Government of money. The
people are cattle in tho market for sale.
Honest citizens OF political principles and
convictions arc AZ the mercy of tn" ,orrapt
and the purchasnbe. Universal suffi age is
aiatlurc. or. rather. there's no universal suf-
frngc by which the character of the Govern
nrnt Is determined. 1t is simply II matter
of purchase and sale.
III tho newspapers which toll us that we
have reached this end speak truly the cor
ruptibiity Of the voters is not greater in
one party than the other. Democratic
newspapers seem to assume that this rot
tcnncss is prevalent among Democrats. and
Republican newspapers that it is wide
Spread among Republicans. Each side
talks about tho danger it is in from
the other because Of tho superior
pccuniary resources Of its enemy. Each
thus suggests that it believes that a largo
part OF its nominal ndhcrcnts arc scoun-
drels who deserve to DC deprived Of their
citizenship. vile and base fellows without
moral or political principle. The greatest
enemy of republican institutions could not
attack them more Indignantly. The worst
traducer Of tho American people could not
assall them more outrageously.
Such infercnccs, Of course. are false and
utterly false. No election for President in
our whole history has been carried by
purchasing votes. Democrats need there
fore have no alarm lest they will
lose the election next Tuesday by
Democratic compatibility. They need have
no fear of the size of Chairman CARRIERS
campaign chest. though no may have
reason to be fearful lest it is not big enough
to get out the laggard Republican vote. Tho
Democrats may not have all the money
they want. but tho deficiency Is not going
to lessen their chances OF carrying the cleo
ton. The Democratic vote is cast because
Of party enthusiasm. and not under the I'M
pulse OF mercenary motives. How it may
be with the Republicans we do not profess
to know. They may be rs purchasable as
their newspapers make out. But we do know
that the Democratic vote is not for sale.
We have no interest in the size Of the Re-
publican campaign chest. and We are glad
to BIO assured that tho Democrats have
enough money to supply the proper neces-
stiles OF the campaign which they will carry
forward to victory next Tuesday.