Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-03-20
SHA NJ EFUL GRIM K.

SHAMEFUL CRIME.
Only short time ago William Nc
Kinley Of Ohio WAS hopeless bankrupt,
and an object Of charity to such an ex-
tent that sympathetic friends subscribed
to fund to relieve him OF his financial
difficulties. Instead of going to work to
redeem his fortune and pay his debts,
he accepted an office with small salary,
and is now flying for the high game Of
the presidency. In connection with his
ambition in this respect, we read that
his political managers have secured
hotel accommodations ut the ST. Louis
hotels for 1900 people during the con-
vention, and are anxiousy looking for
more. The item of hotel accomno-
dations alone will amount to a large sum,
and the question is, where does the
money come from, and why should it he
expended? Pauper that be ia, Mckinley
cannot supply it, and the conclusion aud
fact is that 1T is furnished by rich
corporations who thus make him their
debtor, and who in the event of his crc
ton, viii demand and receive paymr.t
by compelling him to prostitute hia
power and position 10 serve their soriid
purpoBes In any code Of morals it ls a
bargain and sale deal, by which he eacra
ticee his manhood and Independence or
the altar OF his ambition. 1t is gigantic
and unbluehing bribery. No doubt Nc,
Kinley would decline to accept money
for his vote, yet he cheerfully agrees to
reciprocate for nomination with favors.
On par with this, though he holds
himself an honorable man, he looks on
calmly and approvingly and eees an im-
mense corruption fund being raised and
used to debauch electors and delegates
in his favor. The crime that is be-
ing perpetrated is as bold as it
is Infamous, it is known to all
men, for there ia no effort ut conceal
ment, on the contrary, it is justified by
those who are committing it on the
ground that their particular interests
need Mckinley in the executive chair
that they can afford to epend money to
place him there ard that tho ends Justify
the means. What would be amusing in
all this, were it not 30 damnable, il our
boast that ours is "a government Of the
people, by the people, for the people
The theory is very pretty, but the ant
convention campaign OF Mckinley gives
it the lie. 1t demonstrates that the men
OF wealth, by resorting to means aB des
perate ae they are despicable, name
candidates OF their own choosing anC
that the people have no say in the mat
ter. However, this barefaced Mckinley
movement may not prove to be without
it's own compensation. 1t may haster
the day, sure to come, when the people
aroused to Indignation at the usurpa
tione OF the few, will assert their right
and with the ballot as a weapon 30 rev
olutionize conditions that it will be pos
eible for honest men to hold exalted po
sitlons in the land. When the presi
dency will be free will offering on tn,
part OF the people, not purchaseabl
commodity, as it is at present. To ever.
loyal end right thinking citizen McKin
ley and the millionaires who are attem pt
ing to force his nomination are as muci
traitors to American Institutions as wa
benedict Arnold The difference is il
the method, not in degree. OGe cough
to betray the patriot army, the otho
socks to nuiify our system OF civil gov
ernmeut.