The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-09-27
OFT WITH CORRUPTION.

The Tribune says, ''No decent plat
form could possibly tell the truth abe ut
Democratic government in New York,
As exposed by recent Investigations. VI
its shamelessness, of its corruption, OF
its crime. of its open dependence upon
all that is rotten and lewd and criminal.
no platform could give more than mint
without passing the limit. The govern
ment of this great state has been seized
and held by men who owe their political
existence to the lusts and crimes OF
great CITY and to the men who know
insly profit by them, is not pleasant
thing to say or to hear but 1t Is the
truth. Not until the present govern
ment of this city has been utterly rooted
up by citizens of decency and honor can
the voters of this state hope to see their
| wishes respected or their Interests
guarded in state or national elections.
Here we have depicted the organized
crime of the century. 1t IS none the
less culpabIe on account OF so many
participating. 1t is rather the condensed
depravity of thousands, and all the more
aggressive by reason of the mutual de
pendence existing among thieves.
That the government of all our
larger cities have fallen into the hands
Of this class of voters is TO be
deplored as the greatest of all caiamltleS.
So open are the means employed to cor
rupt elections, to keep such men IN office.
that it is half regarded as one of those
evils which must be endured, simply
because it is held as futile to oppose the
voice and doings of a majority. Good
men say by their Indifference that it's no
use to vote, or to make much ado In OPP
position to the clans who have the
organization and the votes. 1t would
seem to be looked upon as getting down
to evil associations for the respectable
citizen to mix with the push by voting
at the same booth. Here lies no small
share of the blame. The fact is that
there is a majority of order-loving and
law-abiding citizens in New York, If
they would only organize and vote. 1t
would be a sad state of affairs in
deed if Anarchists, socialists and
thugs were in the actual majority,
in anv American city. II would, on Its
face, sanction their acts by the truly
American principle of majority rule.
Law could not he enforced. JurieS
would not convict. Courts would shield
criminals, and police service would be
but organized protection Tor crime.
g., IN
government of cities, great and small, is
familiar enough to those in position to
know, but Just as they do exist so far
are we in danger of an anarchy. 1t is
not necessary to 60 all the way to the
Atlantic seaboard to locate these evils.
Chicago, Kansas City and San Francisco
make open declarations of similar con-
ditions. 1t would be strange If such
license and such crime were cIrcum-
scribed by state boundaries, and we all
know they are not. Kansas Is not ex-
empt, nor is any other state. 1t is de-
plorable that our own state government
should be under the charge of criminal
practices in connection with our most
responsible offices. Our larger cities
being under control of state officials, is
any one surprised at corrupt municipal
government?
Here is the menacing danger to re-
publican government as it now exists in
this country. Our urban population is
increasing at greater ratio than in the
country. The criminal class is growing
in much more rapid proportion than
the better element, and 1t is the collec-
ton and aggregation of this class which
make the members sufficient to hold the
balance of power. That they are intent
upon the corrupt use of this power Is
clearly demonstrated in most of our cit
les, 70 prevent this should be the aim
of every good citizen. How to do it is a
matter not yet promulgated, but there is
no time to lose.