Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-11-04
FRIDAY MORNING. NOV. q, 1892.
SHALL CORRUPT METHODS PRE-
VATTe

Four days more and the great issues of
the campaign will have been decided. and
the future policy of the government for
the next four years outlined. With an hon.
est expression at the polls and a fair count
the country is unquestionahly democratic,
but unfortunately, there is a thriftless,
dishonorabe class that have nothing at
stake, and who openly dispose of their suf-
frage in the political market to the highest
bidder. This class must be counted on the
republican side, for with an unlimited cor
ruption fund, Systematically distributed
they are enabled to meet its demands wher-
ever found. The question is therefore de-
generated to a test of strength between
protected capital and its corrupt influence
upon unprincipled voters on the one hand,
and honest conviction and justice on the
other. With these forces pitted against
each other the fight must be to the finish
In New York, Republican leaders confess
reliance upon tie potency OF money or it's
Equivalent to carry the approaching cleo
ton. Here in the South farmers cannot
realize the venality existing among their
brother agriculturists in some sections of
the North. The New York Sun in a
lengthy article along this line, says: "We
OF the city cannot understand the great
use OF money at the polls in rural districts
dealing in cattle OF sheep. The Hudson
river counties are the most demoralized,
and the Generalization has extended to 9TH
Ell counties. Almost always the vote-buy-
ing is done by the Republicans, they have
the money, and it is greatly by this means
that the hold OF their party is maintained
on a number Of the farming counties. 1t
is not the mechanics and workmen, as a
rule, who sell their votes, but farmers and
their hired men and SONS. Twenty dollars
is not high price to pay for vote in these
localities, and the money is paid as openly
as II the buyers were engaged in legitimate
commerce" Such admissions from the
press in New York and other pivotal
States has aroused the people of the coun-
Try to a sense of their danger, and to what
end the republican party is drifting. Sure
ly 1t is a serious matter when it is openly
proposed to set at naught the will of the
people and to establish government control
through the direct agencies Of bribery and
corruption. But the Democracy is not
dlsmayed, nor is it even discouraged. The
alarm with which the honest people of the
land have awakened to, the situation is a
most hopeful feature. The ease with which
vast sums OF money are obtained from
The tariff lords to buy the sutfrages of the
people, has created both disgust and fear.
Ihe wage earners in protected industries
asks in disgust why these contributions
are not spent i'll augmenting his reduced
wages. Ihe consumer asks why he is not
receiving share OF these contributions in
The shape OF lower prices for manufactured
articles. The general public assumes that
The tariff must be securing to the protected
manufacturers enormous and illegitimate
profits, it they can grow rich off it and at
Jhe same time spare SO many millions to
corrupt our politics. Patriots see that it
Is important to put stop to this pluto
cratic debauchery. So the people of the
country are becoming disguised with re-
publican protection, and alarmed with re-
publican methods. Throughout the N orth
and West their ranks are Icing depleted by
constant stream of deserters-men from
all classes and occupations who are rallyina
under the democratic standard. If the re-
publlcans had hoped for apathy OF dissen.
ton among democrats that hope has been
dispelled. The tide for Cleveland and re-
form is now running SO strong that it is
not believed that even the tariff lords with
all their millions can stem it.