The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-10-24
MONEY IN POLITICS.


There are few persons who will openly
defend the use Of money in politics in
the form of direct bribery of the voter.
The almost universal adoption of the Aus
tralan ballot law in this country proves
that the people are opposed in principle
not merely to the. corruption Of the voter,
but also to the control of government by
money, for that is precisely what the pur-
chase Of votes means. The vast majority
of Americans sbelieve that the country
should be governed by the voice of the
people on a manhood basis and not on a
property basis. They do not believe that
mar should control either legislation or
administrative government in proportion
to his wealth, although it Is and must be
conceded that wealthy men do exercise
a greater influence over both from the
very nature of things. The American
idea is that the difference between man
and man 50 far as it is made by property
should be reduced to the lowest possible
point. ~ ]as l1s@sT,' slee d
influence of concentrated wealth is its
ability to oppose those who oppose its in
terests, and there is a growing disposition
to do this. Every one will remember the
Mr.. Morrison Of Illinois because of his
earnest and aggressive work for tariff re-
form, and his example has often been
pointed out since to those who take a
determined stand against such interests.
1t is an open secret that the agents of the
sugar trust have repeatedly threatened
to go into districts of representatives who
opposed the interests Of that organization
and make a special warfare on them at
the succeeding elections.
Several fights of this character are be-
ing made at present. Wilson of West
Virginia is being openly fought by the
coal and iron interests of his state. as
we'll as by the railroad systems that
profted by the transportation of these
materials to the seaboard cities. 1t can
hardly be doubted that the bitter fight
Oh 1oIl JUIuSoA III tie OieNtituu ul5lT-CI
is backed by the Brice influence and is
meant a punishment for the very out
spoken opposition of this representative
to monopoly in all its forms. George W.
Cooper is being opposed by the banking
influence Of his district, and outside cap
ital is aiding in this fight on account of
his championship Of the law making
greenbacks taxable. The chief opposition
to Mr.. Bynum in the gas belt is from
the window glass manufacturers, who
have cut the wages of part of their men
and have made them believe it is due to
the tariff. The flint glass men are not
in sympathy with this opposition.
These are dangers that confront the
representative when he enters congress
with a desire to legislate for the benefit
OF the people. II he desires to strike
down wrong the men who profit by IL
will fight him. VIII the people rally TO
his support the more because of such
opposition? The question is always a
doubtful one. The mass Of them are set
in their political views and welcome such
opposition as a good thing for their party
instead of recognizing it as dangerous to
themselves and to the country. This con-
dltion Of public sentiment is not very en-
couraging to a man who desires to do his
duty, but there is Usually small class
of voters who appreciate boldnsss in the
right direction and who regard the oppo-
sltion of class interests as an Endorsement
to candidate. This is the salt that
saves the nation, and there cannot be too
much Of 1t.