Middletown transcript., 1896-05-23

tempt would be made to bribe Legislatures,
to buy seat in the Senate chamber, and by
the accumulation and shrewd distribution
of great sums to determine even the choice
of the Chief Executive. They could not
anticipate the power of wealth in centroll.
/ ing elections because there were then no
| such collosal fortunes in the country, or
anywhere in the world, as has been accu-
INFLATED in our day. The sudden acquisi:
ton of immense private fortunes has given
men who are minded to do evil tremen-
dous power for wrong doing. With this
wealth some good things have come-the
lifting of colleges to universities, the crea-
ton of libraries, the erection of museums,
the endowment of charities. the extension
of the church; but it has brought serious
evils also. The most conspicous after
growth of evil interest. and destructive in,
| fluence, is the millionaire boss" who is
making business Of corruption and who
| is powerful because good men are negligent
or blind. We have men of great wealth
without conscience enough to guide them
| to its proper use. We have selfish, ambi-
tious men, who allow no scruples to stand
| in their way. Such man makes god of
his former servant. He judges everything
from the coarse financial standard. He ex-
poets to buy whatever he wants, from an
edible to an editor. from watch guard to
a gas plant, from library to a.Legislature,
from pair of shoes to a seat i'll what he
considers the most exclusive club in the
country, and the best vantage ground
from which to increase his wealth. He
cannot see that the most precious things in
life cannot be bought. He cannot under
10 make civilization. He will not see
neither he nor his henchmen, the plant
tools he uses to effect his selfish purpose
they will not see that money given to bribe
voters threatens the stability of the social
order which makes life safe. and property
secure. And so we are face to face to-day
with a condition of which the founders
never dreamed. We are threatened with a |
depth of dishonor beyond which it is inn |
possible to descend-a height of public |
villainy beyond which men cannot climb. a
triumph of debauchery which staggers the
imagination.
! am not an alarmist-I have unbounded
faith in the future-but the unfinished
battle of freedom is upon us, and that man
enslayes his children's children who makes
compromise with this sin of bribery. Its
evil results are numerous and varied. 1t
precedes the loss of confidence in elected
officials. It will soon be seen that the man
who, directly or indirectly gives bribe is
prinsafacie scoundrel, as we'll as the man
who takes a bribe. Men will find out that
be who will buy constituency will sell a
when it will ease his pocket
book to do so.
Bribery jssstjtfes loss of confidence in
BUR rulers. / have noticed the fact that
Door men are practically debarred by the
lost of elections, from many positions of
rust and honor. But if one must be rich
o hold Office our government will soon be-
:ome plutocracy. and of all ocracies
'lutocracy is perhaps the worst. Nothing
$ of more credit to us than our boast that |
lincoln was rail splitter, Johnson tailor, :
nd Garfield canal boy; that amongst us
he poor lad may hope to attain the highest
lonors It cannot be good for us to teach
ur sons that they must first become rich
efofe they can be honored; that the indis-
ensable qualification for high public posi- :,
ion is the ability to pay thousands of !
ollars for election EXPENSE If wealth is
. hold tue key to- political preferment, if I
onest and intelligent poor men are in
ligible to office, then one of our pr oudest
casts is obsolete, aud we must leave our
hairs. executive and legisl atiye to q class 8,
men in whom the gift of money making
as smothered the genius which makes
atesmen.
Then bribery debauches the individual 81
ith whom it is successful. What is
olitics in theory. and as they should be in
ractice2 John G. Whittier overheard the NJ
Dor voters on election day, uttering the :
,li!oquy: p
1.-THE proudest now is but my peer,
The highest not more high
Today, all the weary year, tic
A king of men am /.
'..While there's right to need my vote, II
Awrong TO sweep away
Up clouted knee, and ragged coatl
A mans man today
But what if man is not man. and u
kes bribe? They are not few in num-
r, and they are not decreasing in number,
ho are no longer men because they have
ken the price. and if you go to reoson D.
th them they will tell you that you are
1ude with clean collar, and you are
ring to prevent honest men from getting4
good living. And yet what can be
saner than the sale of a mans sovereignty
the State and over himself. What can or
more degrading than that a man should
ckster himself to the highest bidder?
fore he can do that he has ceased to be Is.
man. He has become base thing eu
th nothing but vile appetite for gain;
lingn that is disgrace to himself and a
mace to the State.- 6tt
Worst Of all, brib cry means ultimate
aos and anarchy. the destruction of
9 government. The end of peace and
ety.
1 fares the land to hastening Ills prey,
aere wealth accumulates and men decay.p
fcoszrHUnD on rHrRB rAoz. -