New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-20
BRIBERY Id Us.

ont unreoenerate condition of mankind seems
cc,tain. II is one of the subjects upon which
orr State Legislatures in various parts OF The
country are experimenting in tentative way
with manifest desire, which il is TO be hoped
il sincere. TO find, if not an eficaclous rem
cdy at least some mitigation Of the evils OF
wholesale bribery and corruption at the polls.
II is certainly good sign when public attcn-
tion is so distinctly drawn to abuses of this
nature. and when the discussion of them Is so
general that our legislators are compelled by
public sentiment to give them serious conSld-
Grafton. For though it be admitted that the
nractice cannot be exterminated by legal enact
ment. the fact brought out by discussion fnat
II exists. and is real present evil from which
alarming consequences may flow. cannot do
otherwise than arouse the mind and conscience
of the people to the contemplation oi a serious
danger The discussion will do good If II only
serves to fix the fact in the public mind that
vote-buying and vote-selling, by whatever proc
esses of indrecion they may be reached, are
not venial offences or the ordinary accompani-
ments of an election. to be winked at or turned
off with 4 joke, but are actual, positive. we'll
defined crimes against society and the State ;
ana what Is perhaps iHoI' 'Hht NV NV
disgraceful to buyer and seller-to bnber ana
blibed. To raise the standard OF intelligence
and morality to this conception Will be more
useful and eflcacious than any enactment OF
pains and penalties.
The impression which prevails to some ex-
tent. and perhaps generally, that bribery has
increased enormously in late years we believe
t, be erroneous though it Is an undonbtei
fact that much larger sums OF money are eX-
pended in campaigns than formerly. IL i 10
he remembered that what are called the lc2ltl-
mate expenses Of an election campaign. the
circulation of documents. hire of headquarters
and of clerks the cost Of public meetings pro-
cessions and other demonstrations have in
creased enormously. That many of thee ex-
penditures are cxtravagant. waSeful and fool
i,h cannot be denied. but 1t may at least be
said that they are not against law OF TO the
derogation of public morals. The proportion OF
voter, who disgrace their citizenship and show
their unworthncss of the franchise by accept
ing brides is no larger than ever III proportion
10 the total vote. Nor is there larger proper
ton of that still worse and more dangerous class
who degrade the franchise and corrupt the
citizen by the purchase OF votes sun the cVI
exists in enormous proportions, ana unless
checked either by law or wholesome pubic
sentiment the tendency i rather toward growth
than dminutiOn. We have undertaken in this
State to put a check upon it by requiring can
ddates for Office TO make an official report
under oath of their election expenses. a
feebler attempt to deal with great evil could
hardly be conceived. The only limitation put
upon candidates contributions toward his own
election is in his sense OF prOprciy and the
fear of incurring criticism by prodigal outlay
in furtherance Of selfish ambition The ease
with which il is cvadcd was well illustrated
in the certificate sworn 10 by Governor Flower
in 1891. that his contribution to the campaign
funds Of his party was only $1,000, Which,
while perhaps technically correct, was not be-
eved by any one familiar with current events
10 cover more than fraction OF what the elcc-
ton actually cost him. The only effect OF that
law has been to familiarzc politicians with
evasions and bubbles and put a premium on
perjury. 1t may be doubted whether any law
Of this sort can afford even a mitigation Of
the evil.
Another method of reform by legislation i
TO limit the amount Of money which candidates
NAV be permitted 10 contribute for their own
election. This was one Of the features OF 4
corrupt practices bill lately under discussion in
the Connecticut Legislature The limit OF con
tributions having been fixed at what was
thought a reasonable figure, it was found that
under its provisions the four parties represented
in the last election might have spent legally
Sc. 100, 900 in campaign expenses. What this
might mean in 4 total poll OF 1Gi, 600 votes
may be imagined. In the course Of com
mittee hearing Ex-Governor Waller said that
the Democratic State Central Committee alone
disbursed in the last election over 500, 900
lie and other prominent Democrats as good as
admitted that much of this was used for the
purchase Of votes, a practice which in that
State increased enormously under the methods
employed by the late William II. Barnum. il
is to the credit Of Governor Waller and other
Connecticut Democrats that they realized the
dangerous tendencies OF such state Of things
and urged legislative action on the subject
And it is only truth to say that the position
taken by ex-GovernOr Bulkeley. which. if he
has been correctly reported. was practically in
defence of existing conditions and practices
which are felt by all good citizens to be a dis
grace to the State, was not only unworthy Of
him, but a reflection upon the honesty and
honor of the party which has given him lis
confidence and bestowed on him its highest
h0nors The OutbuIst of dissent and protest
from the Republican press Of the State proved
that he represented no one but himself in the
views expressed II may not be possible TO
exterminate bribery by legislation, but great
good will come from the agitation and dis
cusson ii il results in the formation OF a whole
some sentiment which shall define it distinctly
as equally criminal and disgracefu on the part
of both the briber and the bribed.
THE FACTIONS AT WAR;
Our Albany correspondent contributed TO TIIE