The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-05
DANGER LIES IN THE CORRUPTING
INFLUENCE OF MONEY, SAYS
REV. FAUDE.
MANY FORMS OF BRIBERY,
OF WHICH THE PROMISE OF POSI-
TION IS THE MOST TO BE
lBHoRRED.
POLICEMAN BRITT,s vrc1
His Wounds Not SeriOus-His YER
sion of the Shooting ARRAY
News of Minneapolis.

AT GethSemane church last night
Rev j. j. Faude preached to a fair
sized congregation, his subject being
Bribery" He held that the three in
stttutions of the government were the
family, the church and the state. The
state, he said, was as sacred as the
family or church, and must be guarded
as faithfully. The whole question of
the stability of the state was deter
mined by the voter, and If he was in
any way corrupt, then the stability of
the state was threatened, and it's dur
ability but a question of time. He
cited, by way of illustration, the Tam
many organization of New York city,
and the alarming state of affairs in all
branches of the municipal government,
as shown by the investigation Of the
Lexow commission. Many states have
made bribery crime, some q felony,
and other states a misdemeanor; and
1t was shown that bribery in some form
had existed in those states before they
had taken measures to prevent 1t by
making it crime. We are told by the
Scriptures THAT the powers that be
are ordained of God" The first idea in
government was of men banding to-
gether for mutual protection One of
the first thoughts was that of educa-
ton, and the real education ought to
be that of the family; and as we are
now organized there Is nothing better
than the present system of education.
which will work for the elevation of
mankind.
Government of the people, for the
people, and by the people is the ideal.
Our system, which gives all classes the
right to determine who our rulers
shall be, and which gives the rulers but
little power, they ruling only in the
sense of directing the business of the
country, was not the ideal when 1t was
found that corruption of all forms ex-
listed under 1t, and If it were possible
to purchase courts and legislatures and
Judges and members of congress, then
no man dare deny that there Is danger
In the future. Is it necessary that
campaign expenses should run up in
the millions, and the campaign funds
have any other purpose but the pur-
chasing Of votes? Not to bring the
matter near to home, Mr.. Faude called
attention to a recent election in New
York city where the candidates were
assessed five times the necessary
amount of the legitimate campaign ex-
penses, and there was raised
outside Of the candidates over half a
million dollars in addition. He added:
Can any sane man claim that it takes that
amount OF money to carry on an election in
that city? Is 1t right to purchase votes?
Yet there is class of men who are declaring
mat the carrying Of polls is business: this
CLASS OF men aAe trying to drag down the
government. Of the different forms of
bribery cannot see any difference between
the briber and the bribed, the man who
votes for so much money, or the one that
is promised a position in some public build
ing or position of influence. Another form
OF bribery in elections is when a class of
men declare that such a policy will lead to
losses and so FORTH No less dishonest il
when under threat or promise men are
Dribed to do what their convictions lead
them to believe is not right When you have
corrupted the voter it is only a question of
time when every branch Of the government
will be under the influence of corruption. I
do not believe there is any issue presented
to the voter as important as that of an hon
est election, and believe our duty Is to
down that party that is trying to purchase
votes. no matter what the issue is, for un-
I'll you have honest convictions at the polls
the dangers of the government are not past.