The Topeka state journal., 1897-03-06
Expresses His Opinion ON Han
ma, the New Senator.
He. Sees in the Choice of the
OhiOan
TRIUMPH OF CAPITAL
Over Men-Business Men Are on
the Rack.
Til1man Says We Are Making
History Rapidly.

Washington, March 6-Senator B. R.
Tillman of South Carolina is quoted in
an interview in a local paper as saying:
1--WE are making history very rapidly
in these closing years of the 18th centu-
ry and the two opposing forces in Amer
lean politics, the people and organized
capital, are already marshaltng their
forces for the contest in 1900. The last
election, although it witnessed the tri-
umph of money, is acknowledged to
have settled nothing, and every student
OF current events must realize that the
condition of antagOnism between men
and money of our country is becoming
more and more accentuated every day.
AS soon as it became known that Sen
atOr Sherman would receive the port
folio of state in the cabinet of Mr. Nc
Kinley the question of his successor
came prominently to the front and for
two months the figure of Mark Hanna
doomed portentOusly above the horizon
as the man who was to take Sherman
place in the American house of lords.
There have been reports, interviews and
surnises almost daily leading the peo-
pie to believe that Gov. Bushnell and
Senator Foraker would resist the de-
mand for Mr. Hanna'S appointment to
fill he senatorial vacancy. There were
patriotic Americans trained in the old
school of our politics, both Democratic
and Republican, who hoped that official
subserviency wouldn't stoop so far and
that the great state of Ohio might have
as its representative in the senate one
worthy to succeed John Sherman.
But the business methods for the
first time made familiar to the Ameri-
can people in the recent presidential
canvass, have been too strong.
Hanna is the next senator from
Ohio.
''Organized capital faunts in the face
of the American people the commission
to a seat in the senate, wrung from a
reluctant executive, and the 4th of
March, which witnessed the withdrawal
of Sherman, is followed swiftly by the
entrance into the senate chamber of a
man who boldly and unblushingly
bought the presidency for his friend and
patron.
Il say patron, for am not ready to
use harsher term, which, however, is
floating in the minds of the people, nor
do / believe that Mr.. Mckinley will per-
init himself to become the mere puppet
and tool of Hanna and the men he rep
reSents.
THE two men are very intimately as
sociated, and one owes the other much,
very much; but I shall hope to see the
new president perform the duties of his
high office in manner that will reflect
credit upon himself and the millions of
true Americans who voted for him, ,rath-
er than lend himself to the scheme of
the conSpiratOrS who are pressing mad
ly onward, either to defeat or revolt
tion.
THE American people have done a
great deal of thinking since the Novem-
ber election, and the masses have learn
ed a great deal about the true nature of
the issue presented in the last cam
paign. 1t is fortunate for those who
have not deSpaired of the repu bile, and
who believe in the capacity of men for
self government that Mark Hanna is
to enter the senate. His advent marks
a further step lower deep
in the debauchery of American politics
The election to the high office of his
Democratic predecessor by bribery has
been charged with much show of truth,
tfl Thv-e
the light of day
What, with the fact that Ohio cast
one vote in the recent election for every
3A inhabitants, and now sets the man
tpulator of that election translated to
the senate, it is easy to see that the
downward course, the easy descent to
hell is being rapidly trod. The bust
ness methods which have brought
about these results and the reward now
claimed and obtained at once, unblush-
1ngly, must mark an epoch in American
history.
THE seat filled by bluff, honest old
Ben Wade, and Grand Old Man Allen
Thurman, is to be occupied by Mark
Hanna, and the question naturally pre-
sents itself, what is, the reason for thus
honOring this man?S
Let the cause be what il NAV. the
American people have only themselves
TO blame for the conditions in which
they now find themselves. The struggle
for the control of the government by |
the trusts and corporations have caused
us ~ WlIneSS strange sights within
cent years. The federal patronage and
the possession of the veto power are the
prizes fought for in the presidential
election.
"A seat in the senate which is the
fortress of the wealthy classes and ia |
vored interests, is becoming so vaIua-
Die that the election of a senator in any
state, north or south, where money can
be used, is no longer left to the people |
or their representatives. Partisan feel |
ing runs so high as to threaten rioting
nm rgeI,.
Kentucky last spring. and see the sit
uation in Oregon. Then the elections
for senator in South Dakota Idaho anfi
North Carolina are too recent to ne<.d
more than an aIluslon.
They all cry with trumpet voice for
the election of senators by the direct
vote of the people.
The robbery of the people by still
more oppressive legislation than they
now endure. cannot be ACCOMPLISHED
except by legislative action, and a vote
an me state in the equally balanced
condition Of parties becomes rnore and
more prize TO be fought for, and-alas
1 must sly Thought The Republican
chairman who has become senator has
been actively at work securing votes in
that body
When congress convenes in extra
session he will himself be a member of
it and his intimate rela tionS with the
new president will naturally give him
more weight than any man in the SEN
ate Thus bribery, the wholesale de-
pauSneTy Oh the ballot, IS rewarded by
the highest honor and influence. The
highest honor within the gift of the
state is the prize for the wholesale pros
titution of the American people.
again l say it marks an epoch in
our country's history, and it remains
to be seen whe ther the triumph of wrong
over right, of falsehood over truth of
dishonesty and corruption shall be per
manent. I repeat that the brazen ef-
frontery which has brought about this
object lesson is fortunate for the cause
of humanity and patriotism.
'The mills of the gods grind slowly
but they grind exceeding small The
people of great wealth who use such
methods to increase their ilI-gotten
gains are only damulinz up the waters