The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1899-05-31
WEDNESDAY, MAY 81, 1899.
DANGERSOf The REPUBLIC
From Sd page.

UHINOLNC vi I'LL N1l ODLlO
From Sd page.
office. A communication from your
own Superintendent ofSchools recently
published in THE GAZETTE convinces
me that the chart fiends are able to do
business right here in this beautiful
county of Redwood. 1t is said of GER
tain members of the legislature at st.
Paul that they always voted virtu-
ously when there was nothing to be
gained by different course, but that a
cash consideration has always appealed
to them-and they are returned, year
after year by their admiring constitu-
ents.
What does it mean? The school fund
should be as sacred as anything on this
earth. Believing, as we do, that an educa-
ton is the best gift we can leave our child
rem we willingly pay large sums for the sup
port of our schools. The man who would
trihe with that fund is a worse traitor to
this republic than any man who faced these.
our brothers, in the open field. The legis-
lator who would make his position thing
for trade or traffic is more deadly enemy
to our flag than the PHILIPPINE who turks in
ambush to shoot down one of our soldier
boys.
Fellow citizens The giant of public senti-
ment is sleeping while the assassin Of public
morals is looting our treasure house!
Awake, in the sacred name of liberty and
ri ri hn 1S IF nj
power! Awake, lest while sleeping the tenn
pie of liberty, falling, crush freedom in its
ruins.
CAUSES OF BOODLEIsM.
One of these is the failure of courts to deal
dout even handed justice The web of the
Official net seems cunningly adjusted to
catch the small fry while the sharks go un-
punished. And we, the people, are to blame
for this. Any prosecuting attorney will tell
you that the hardest crime to convict is tor
embezzlement l once took part in trial of
a school officer accused of this offence. On
the jury were at least five school officers.
The case was perfectly strong and clear
and the charge to the jury left them but
little else than to elect foreman and re-
turn a verdict of guilty. Every mothers
son of those officers voted first last and all
the time for acquittal and the fellow went
scot free.
The stream cannot rise above the fountain
head, and. not until there is a stern demand
FOR justice will these thieves be in any dan
ger from trial. Do you wish reform
Then don't shirk jury duty: don't put on the
Jury list the fellow who has no visible
means of support. Fill the list with your
busiest merchants and farmers and business
men, and retire the professional for while.
and you will be astonished at the improve
ment in public morals. Don't blame the
law for it's great deal better than you are;
don't blame the judge, for, as rule ne Is
honest and desires to see crime punished;
don't blame the lawyers, for they average
about with the rest of you, but just attend
to the jury list and watch results
Another cause is found in the fact that
man may be ever so sharp and tricky IN
private or public affairs but so long as he Is
successful and keeps out of Jail, he remains
social and political favorite. At church ne
sits in a front pew your genuine boodler
takes to churches) and pastor and trustees
smile Just in proportion to his donation he
gives a reception and the whole town turns
out to swell his triumph. He runs for office
and gets the straight party vote and all the
boodlers vote for him; so he s elected at the
top of the poll. You know it Is provert
that the chap who steals an overcoat goes tt
prison while the fellow who wrecks banh
or loots railroad goes to congress or gets q
fat appointive office.
The public can easily make theft un
fashionable and Improbable. AS rule
they smile blandly at the successful rogue
and frown severely on honest failure.
There is third and very potent cause
for a large part of this, the evil OF the age
1t is found in that blind devotion to part,
which leads good men, thinking men to vot'
for, on the ground of regularity. men whom
they distrust and dislike personally. Thu
crack of the party whip causes many t
lose sight of ability and honesty in tn
candidate and to vote the ticket straigh
although they are forced to apologize TO
the vote.
Now don't misunderstood me. This i
not a thrust at any party, for your genuin
boodler can steal in any party under tn
sun. In Republican State he will shout TO
protection and steal: in a Democratic cit
he will cheer for free trade and plunde
right and left; in Populist county he vii
squeeze the rag baby until it shrieks an
try to get his finger in the pie for his ow
good. Frequently there will be combina
ton of this element in different parties
work them all.
Nor do wish to be understood as bein
against parties, for l am. think. quite
strong believer in and follower of one of tn
great parties of the land For the presen
we have to have parties or our political con
tiition would be still worse. It's the abuse G
parties we should deplore. The man wht
in this day and age. says he would vote TO
"a yellow dog if ne was on his ticket ough
to get collar and obey the whistle of som
boss The test is this: Would you trust tn
candidate upon your own ticket to do tn