The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-09-06
THE POPULIsTs' DREAM AND
WEAKENING.

Jerry Simpson opens his campaign for
Congress with the declaration that the
only valuable thing done by the last Con-
gress was the passing of the income tax.
and that that measure was a Populist
measure. We cheerfully concede Mr..
Simpsons second claim. The income tax
is n Populist measure, and II is intended,
as he says. to be In the interest of the
masses. that is. It is intended to be the
first move in a plan of government by
which all the burdens of government shall
be placed upon the few individuals I'm the
United States who have incomes eXceNd-
ing $4,000, while all the seventy millions
of people I'm the United States shall enjoy
the blessings of the government Of which
those few people pay the costs. If
sensible man will only think over this,
which is "a perfectly fair statement Of the
case. how long does he suppose a govern
ment conducted upon such a plan viii
have blessings TO confer upon anybody?
Does he not know that those who sup
port government are going to control
government? II a particular class is
charged with all the burdens of govern
ment that class. Just as certainly as the
sun shines will control the government
its burdens they will take possession of II
40 as TO make those burdens as light as
possible and so as to direct the channels
into which cheir money is to go, and the
beginning of that form of politics is the
dawn of the era of corruption in elections
and purchase with money of every gov
eInmental function. Let not the citizen
who hopes to see this insidious form of
l., H. ,f....e
of those who do not pay tax of this
sort. will make IL impossible for the small
body OF those who do to control govern
ment The power of money to corrupt in
public elections defies all calculation. a
year ago we saw twenty-five TO one of the
voters of this State in favor Of sending.'a
certain man 10 the United States Senate.
Yet money thrust sts baleful influence into
the contest and We saw the popular man
set aside and an unknown man chosen.
And so 1t will eternally happen whenever
money is driven to asserting its influence
In popular elections The money which
was used In the election we have referred
TO was not appropriated primarily TO elect
a United States senator. but those who
handled that money simply took the
senator as one of the perquisites of their
triumph. The primary object was 10 save
property from threatened attacks upon
IL of exactly the same character as the
Income tax. Their property was threat
ened with destruction, and they fought
back with the only weapon they had
money. SO II will be whenever property is
attacked IL will fight for its existence, and
its only weapon is money with which to
corrupt elections. Call to mind what
money did in Virginia's election year
ago. Bribery and fraudulent elections
from one end OF the State TO the other.
II IL true there has been popular in
eurrection against BOTH that holds out
a promise at least that We shall have
very little more OF either. But how did
that insurrection come about? Ii was due
absolutely and entirely to The Times
learning OF its existence and exposing IL.
And even then The Times was fought TO
the death in making the exposure by
overy influential agency in. and almost
the entire press OF the State. We do not
hesitate to say that but for The Times
exposure OF the rotten state that had
grown up In our politics here. n corrupt
government would have been saddled up
on this State that II might never have
freed itself from
But who is TO expose the corruption OF
government when property, attacked
everywhere on the principle OF the in
come tax. fights back and seeks control
OF government for It's own preservation.
The Times may. The Times Will. for 1t
will always fight corrupt methods what
ever the alternative may be. And yet
The Times will night with heavy heart.
knowing that while corruption IN cleo
Mons will certainly end our civilization.