New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-06


| become conneC cd only for political purposes,
can realize the enormous extent OF the drain
upon the sitting member made after his cleo
ton by those who have returned him to Parlia-
ment.
The actual cost of each election may be said
10 be all the way from 500 600 to 100000 even
in these regenerate days. when bribery and cor
ruption are supposed to be unknown. But.
heavy as are the expenses, they are a mere
lieabite compared TO the subsequent expenditure
which the successful member has to face as
long as he remains in Parliament. Every liquor
dealer-publicans they call them in England
who finds himself in financial difficulties APP
plies for assistance to his member of Parlia-
ment, and if the latter does not respond gencr-
| ousy to his appeals converts his ginmill into
n meeting place for his enemies. The clergy OF
the district are still more cxtOrtiOnatc in their
applications, possibly because they feel that
they are not asking for themselves. But If the
member declines to comply with their applica-
! lions for subscriptions to the numerous under
/ takings in which they interested. he ipso
facto converts these reverend Fathers in God
into political foes. all the more bitter by reason
Of the old law which debars every benefited
clergyman of the Church Of England from cast
ing a vote or from occupying a seat in Parlia
ment
Besides this, each individual voter seems to
consider that he has sort OF vested right to the
purse OF the candidate whom he has helped to
elect and regards himself as a cruelty injured
person if this purse is not at all times open 10
him. The consequence is that large numbers OF
members Of Parliament, after serving Few
terms in Parliament retire from political lie
! with half their fortune sacrificed, resolved TO
withdraw before being entirely reduced to beg
gary
OF course there are some men who escape
this imposition by their brilliancy and by Their
eloquence Their presence in Parliament Is
considered so indispensable to their political
party that the managers Of the latter pay thelr
electoral expenses from the campaign fund ana
as soon as they have served through the cntlre
term of Parliament for one constituency noml-
nate them in the next Parliament for some other
electoral district, far distant as possible from
the first one and where their Discrimination TO
respond to appeals upon their purse is more or
less unknown. The managers of the party
usually take care to have a candidate of this
kind-that is to say, who possesses more brains
than money followed by one who has more
"oof'' than intellect. In this way things are
cvened up and the voters are prevented from
losing faith in the political doctrines Of their
party.
THE CAMPAIGN FUND IN ENGLAND.
II is hardly necessary to say that the cam
paign fund plays quite as important a part IN
English elections az it does in those of this
country It's composition, however is different
For the principal subscribers thereto are not as
in this country. the ofiiceholders prospective or
actual but rich men who are anxious either for
seats in Parliament or for tiular distinction
/ Thus large number Of peerages. baronetcies
and knighthoods have been conferred during The
! last thirty or forty years which are admittedly
merely party rewards for contributions to the
/ electoral campaign fund. Such are. for instance
the peerages conferred upon Sydney stern now
| Lord Wansworth: that of Mr.. Williamson now
! Lord Ashton: tfat of Mr.. Hubbard, now Lord
Aldenham: that OF Mr.. "Squirre' Flower (hus-
band Of Miss Rothschd), now Lord Battersea
as well as those of Lord Brassey. Lord Burton,
Lord Ardilaun and Lord Iveagh. the last three
peers being all multi-millionaire brewers. In
/ each instance the peeragc has been so to speak.
purchased by contributions to the campaign
/ fund of one Of the two great political parties
and the sums contributed in each instance have
ranged all the way from 100000 10 S1OOOUOO
Sir Blundc Maple, the Grea; retail furniture
dealer in London. has had 10 remain content
with a mere knighthood, although his cOntribu
/ tons to the campaign fund OF his party have
/ been almost as heavy as those which secured a
! peerage for Lord Brasscy, while the cx-multi-
: millionaire, HOOley, as well as the equally
wealthy Nitrate King the late "Coonel'
| North, are known TO have paid enormous sums
| TO the campaign fund Of the Conservative party
solely in order t. secure their admission 10 the
Carlton Club. the principal Tory stronghold the