San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-11-24
LIGHT SPARKLERs.

For good independent reading, you will
find il in the LIGHT
San Antonio needs new pack of cards,
a new shuttle, a new cut, and new deal,
in the coming city election.
1t is high time sef.reSpecting citizens
were setting their faces as flints against
the dicker and tucker game for gobbling
up the public offices.
Whenever our elections shall be carried
by corrupt influences, and cease to reflect
the will of the people, the fabric of our
government will have been undermined
will have lost its perpendicularity and
will be tottcrins TO its fall.
The Roman Republic, in many respects,
the grandeSt government mentioned in
the annals of history, was undermined
and overthrow by the corruption prac-
ticed in the election of the cOnSulS,
Caesar, Pompey and CrassuS, finding
they could do nothing Single handed, en-
tered into a combination. CraSSuS was
the richest man in Rome and furnished
the means of carrying the election by
bribery and corruption.
The triumvirate, as it was called, gov
erned Rome for several years under the
old forms of laws and customs.
Has San Antonio its triumvirate, or has
it had in times past?
Have Caesar. POmpey and CraSSus
formed a combination and pooled their
resources and influence for controlling
elections for their special benefit?
The elections in all the cities in the
Union have come to be the verieSt hot
beds of corruption. The larger the city is
the greater is the corruption.
The country vote has, so far, been free
from corrupt influences, and has counter
ho lanpn6 tho vote nt the cities Knit
the cities increase in population more
rapidly than the country, the probability
is, that in ten years, New York, Phila-
delphia, Chicago, st. Louis, Cincinnati,
and few other large cities will elect our
presidents.
San Antonio controls Bexar county by
its vote being larger than that of the
country.
Groups was killed in Parthia, and C9
sar and POmpey drifted apart and final
", plunged the Republic into civil war,
that ended by Caesars becoming dictator,
with veteran army at his back.
Corrupt elections was the seminal prin-
ciple and springfield of the events that
overthrow the Roman Repu Olc and ex-
tingushed the liberty of its citizens.
Like causes produce like effects" in
all ages and nations. Corruption has
been the bane of all past repu blicS, and
this should put us on our guard against
its insidiouS approaches.
The country voters are seldom able to
get man from the country elected to a
county Office, yet that does not open
their eyes.
The people should ponder over the
OF affairs and resolve, for once
in their liveS,tO rise above pretty jealous
ness, racial clanniShneSS, personal dis
nd 81
to cut loose from the tow line of cliqueS
and to listen only to the voice of patriot
ism.
In case citizens will act in this manner,
at the coming election, they can elect
city officers, who will not form CLIQUE,
or be dictated TO by clique.
Let us shun men of the you tickle me
and | will tickle you" order.
But the Germans must have man on
the ticket POlackerS must have man
on it alsO--it would be incomplete with
out an lriShman on 1.-THE Clark fellows
would bolt in case Hogg man is on it,
the HOgg men might do the same thing if
all Clark men are on the ticket the
working men resemble a swarm of bees,
in their unsettledneSs. A Mexican on
the ticket would produce kick and the
emitting to put one on, SOlidtfy the Mex
lean vote, the Jews would want a Jew on
the ticket, perhaps.
This is the stumbling block in popu-
lar movement. Citizens must forego
lkingS and grudges. race prejudices and
ana party feeling and per-
Sonal ambition for the sake of the com
mon cause.-the recovery by the people of
the right to choose their public officers.
Unless citizens are ready and willing to
make these sacrifices for the public good,
they may look to be defeated by machine
politics.