Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-10-07
Senators Elected by the People.

Now that it is proposed in Virginia
to name q. s. Senators by primary
elections, we think a few remarks
made on the floor of the house of Con-
gress by Hon. a. st. George Tucker on
Jnly 18th, 1892 give pungent reasons
for such course and justify one who
has convictions on that point in his
belief, that it shovld be done and that
at an early day. Mr.. Tucker said
1.-THE past thirty years has witnessed
the enormous increase of Individual
and corporate fortunes in this country,
until the millionaire is no longer a rar
ity. This fact has served to develop
the insolence and arrogance of wealth,
until the intellectual endowments are
dwarfed in its sordid presence, and
moral character lies PROSTATE in Its
ruthless path. Applause.] The pow
er to rule men by intellectual and NOR
al force, the test of craftsmanship OF
a former day, is fast passing away.
While wealth, the uncrowned king,
oftentimes lacking both. and coveting
neither, arrogantly seeks to rule in a
domain where it is only fitted to
cry community, and it's votaries are
found in every household. Patriotism
has given place to material expediency,
and the love of country is supplanted
by the love of money. An aptness for
percentages are often regarded as the
most essential of Senatorial equip
ments.
But there is another element more
dangerous to the liberties of the peo-
pie than that Of individual wealth in
It's influence on the election of Sena-
tors. The wonderful growth of our
country has been greatly accelerated
by the combinations of wealth by cor.
porate forms. These in their proper
spheres are to be encouraged rather
than condemned; but when they leave
their legitimate fields of operation and
seek to control, against the interests OF
the people, the legislation of the coun
try, whether they be banks or rail
roads, corporations or trusts, or com
bines, they will meet with the indig
nant protests of all true friends of the
people. The number of employees in
their control, the concentration Of
great wealth in their treasures, and
the parliamentary favors' which they
are able and most willing to bestow
render their advances most enticine
and their approaches most insinuating
Their interests are guarded by the
ablest men of each community, and, il
public rumor be true, they can lay
their hands on representatives of the
people in many of the legislatures ir
the land and claim them as their own
| If the people dare seek relief from
their exactions they are met by the
agents of the corporations, who at
tempt to thwart them at every step
All that shrewdness, audacity, an6
money can suggest is readily at theil
command. The Legislature is invaded
and the rights of the people give place
to the exactions of corporate power
while he who can serve the corpora
lions by his control of the Legislature
by intrigue, artifice, or persuasion
lagainst the demands of the people, il
regarded in modern days as more ter
rible than an army with banners" ant
as fully equipped himself for service
in the Senate, where in that enlarged
field his powers can be utilized for tn,
benefit of the corporations he serves.