The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-04-08

Vi ohIeI POnClH anu consul was easily
obtained.
During the empire elections were
usually u mere formality. Bribery
was open and unblushing. Toward the
end of the second century the empire
was politically sold at auction to the
highest bidder. Didius Julianus,
rich senator, obtained the prize by the
payment of $500 to each soldier of the
PretOrian guard. But he was executed
after a precarious and inglorious reign
of sixty-six days.
"The history of the Roman republic
and the Roman empire, should be a
salutary warning to us. Our Christian
Fertilization gives us no immunity from
political corruption and disaster. The
oft-repeated cry of election fraud
should not be treated with Indifference.
~
I'm every possible way, by tickets
insidiously printed, by "colonizing, "
repeating" and 'personating,"
frauds are attempted, and too often
successfully, on the ballot.
"But when the very foundations of
Legislation are polluted by lobbying
and other corrupt means; when the
hand of bribery is extended, and not
always in vain, to our municipal, state
and national legislators; when our law
makers become the plant tools of some
selfish and greedy capitalists, instead
of obser wing the interests of the peo-
ple--then, indeed, all patriotic citizens
have reason to be alarmed about the
future of our country.
"Our Saviour scOurged and cast out
Of the temple those who bought and
sold in it, and overturned the tables
of the money-changers, saying: "My
house is house Of prayer, but you
have made it a den of thieves"
1.-The political money changers
solutes the temple by his ubiquitous
| practices; the electioneering money
changers traffics in human beings.
"Let the buyers and sellers of votes
be declared infamous; for they are
trading in our American birth-right.
Let them be cast forth from the pale
of American citizenship and be treated
as outlaws"
Will anyone question for moment,
that this fearful arraignment of present
political practices is not truthful and
just? Will any one say that this warn
ing is not timelyP Will any one say
that this eminent prelate is "calam-
ity howler' and apolitical demagogueP
Nay, verify.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH.
The above article quoted at length
is exhaustive and conclusive as far rs it
goes; but there is another line of inves-
tigatiOn, which, we presume. was not
within the scope and intention Of the
cardinals article. 1t is the question
of "weath distribution. We will
cite some facts.
The Progress of Boston, says: THAT
when Egypt went down 2 per cent of
her people owned 81 per cent Of her
wealth; and that the people were
starved to death; that when Persia
went down per cent Of her people
owned all the land; that when Rome
went down 1900 people owned all the
known world. In 1850, in this country,
capitalists owned 97I per cent of her
wealth. Today they own moro than
twice that amount Of her wealth.
Yet he who goes before the peo-
pie, and, without comment, with
out temper, points to these facts that
are statistical and undisputed, is
sneered at as "calamity bowler"
The American Economist says:
THAT the number Of people who own
their own homes, has in the last
twenty-five years fallen from FIVE
Fights to three-eights"
These are astonishing facts, and
should be cause Of alarm to all who
seek the perpetuity Of our institutions.
I. G. Sherman, an eminent republic
can statistician says: "That 1856, $40
families of the rich own S43, 300, O0O,-
900, or s1S6,0O0 per family. That
100000 families Of the middle class,
own $7,5OO,O0O,OOO, or $3.50 per
| family. That II 565 0OO families of