Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-10-24
MACyEAGH on ISSUES.

abuses 10 WhIch nave alluded, but Y
my mind they are as the dust in the bal
ance compared TO the farreaching mora
issues which underlie them, and foI
which, for veal or woe, the result Of
this canvass ia OF such tremendous i'm
- portance. Upon n subject so grave dc
not let us, beg of yog.sommit any mis-
take we can avoid, or cherish any mis-
= understanding. Standing here
tonight | can honestly say have not q
single particle of i'll feeling toward any
living creature. would be very TN
grateful and unreasonable person If
had; but. ladies and gentlemen, the sol
onn truth Of God remains-his truth
many men Of the class TO which you and
| belong are today probably innocently,
mistakenly, without bad motives. but
none the less absolutely, poisoning the
vcgy wells from which the people of
America must draw their public life.
During the last twenty years, by very
slow approaches, large numbers Of
wealthy men Ia this country have per-
suadCd themselves that they are at lib
erty to pervert government from It's
noble and lofty function Of securing the
greatest good Of the greatest number
into the base and degraded function Of
taxing the majority in order to ha2d
over those taxes as bounties TO such per-
sons as in return for those favors will
+ contribute large Gums Of money 10 carry
/ elections. When the doctrine is stated
IN that naked form, even the gentlemen,
who. by their wealth, energy and public
/ spirit, give distinction 10 the Nanufac-
1 turcrs clrb, would shrink from accept
ing it. But | am firmly resolved that
there shall be no ground Of difference
between them and me upon the facts Of
. this matter.
Idisinctly allege that they are now
making themselves parties 10 a system.
atic corruption Of the ballot in the
hands Of the American voter. and that
whoever collects or contributes money
for such "A purpose Is morally guilty Of
treason 70 tue Institutions our fathers
founded and upon whose continuance in
thcir strength and purity the welfare
Of our children depends. And in prov
ing this assertion would scorn to rely
upon the statement Of any political i'd
yersary, however honorable or trust
worthy. lpropose TO convict them Of
the oleuse allege they are committing
ont Of the mouths OF their own trusted
political associates.
And now comes the canvass Of 1892,
/ AMI the wealthy and respectable mem.
/ bers Of the Manufacturers club, looking
/ over the whole list Of Republicans in
/ this city, select Mr.. David Martin 10
/ represent them in the pending election
/ in tho cities Of New York and Brooklyn,
/ and shortly after Mr.. Martin arrives at
the scene Of his labors the chairman Of
the Republican state committee Of New
. York issues a confidential circular 70
/ such Republicans as could be trusted
with It,, asking for such services as will
call "for the exercise OF caution and the
/ ability to keep secret. Are you will
, Ing TO undertake such duty 70 help secure
. Republican success! IL you are willing
to do so, send me the name of a Demo
crat among your acquaintance who you
believe can be induced to vote the Re-
/ publican ticket this fail. II more than
/ one, give their namss. and place their
names in the inclosed envelope"
SO far from deriving any pleasure from
laying before you these evidences Of the
political corruption which Is undernin-
in the foundation OF our liberties, they
cause me nothing but pain. The men
implicated IN them, Irepeat, are certainly
my peers and probably the peers Of any
OF you, and desire to express no words
OF harShnCss or bitterness concerning
4h,,,, -, I, 4
It's continuance desire to enter here my
earnest and solemn protest, and with a
full sense Of my responsibility for the
words | utter, declare TO these gentle
men who contribute the money for the
corruption Of our politics that as be-
tween the two crimes ! would much
rather place money in the hands OF a
burglar to bribe a watchman TO allow
him 20 rob bank Of some of its surplus
wealth than to contribute money to be
used in politics" by Mr.. Quay or Mr..
Martin or Mr.. Hackett.
The one hateful crime now more In
danger of spreading than any other
among respectable members Of Ameri-
can society Is the crime Of corrupting
our politics. As to the past, am quite
willing there shall be not only forgetful-
ness and silence, but the amplest char
lty, and If the men now engaged In this
work Will stop will promise never
again 10 a!lude 10 it. On the other hand.
II they persist in continuing their evil
work, a, they are continuing it TODAY.
then while lifo and strength are spared
uo VIII continue to deuounce them.
" they is'te.s religion viii denource
,l"m js ,ae enemies Of the religion they
'tIonor Jy their hypocrisy, and IL they
10 ro. lr,f",s religion will denounce
,lem g# enemies OF the nation they are
Gesyru. as by their crimes.
Let us, therefore, If necessary, dis
.roo a 1l' the reform Of the civil ser.
VICE, oyua, the tariff, about trusts.
. a0ou. pensions, about silver, but do not
let us pretend TO believe that Gods
moral Laws can be suspended at our will
simply because we desire 70 add TO our
wealth, which is now probably greater
than we can wisely use. Let US all
come as loyal American citizens In
common accord upon one common plat
fOrm-that the manhood Of each man
shall DO sacred in the eyes OF every
other, and that one OF the lofdest