The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-09-22
OUR LEGACY.
Republican Corruptionists In the
1896 Campaign.
MEN INTIMIlATED AND COEROED.

MIN LIN llMlLAlbD AMI OoIIOLU.
Voters Forced to Make Merchandise
of Their Manhood In Order to HolI
neir Observation-Disclosures Frin-
cip.cs Of Republican Form of Gov
crnuent SuhvcrtcI.
In a recent address the Rev. Burt
Estes Howard, the noted CongrcSa-
tional preacher Of Los Angeles, said:
No policy was ever adopted in the
history of the world that savorcd more
of the sophiStry that Il good end juSti-
fed 4 corrupt means 1t is like playing
the harlOt to obtain money to put on
the collection plate. DE not tell me
that the men who manipulated that
great fund for buying votes, the men
who inlim.uatrd and cocrccd by
threats Of various culamities the poor
voter who was forced to make mer-
clandisc of his manhood in order to
hold his position aud save his little
ones from starvation: do not tell me
that these mon who subYcrtcl the
Fundamental principles of a republic
IN form of government, the right OF
independent suffrage and the free
choice Of those who shall rule over
us, believe i'll republican institutions.
They do not. They believe that they
have found something better than 4
democracy. they have Oartcrcd the
legacy cr our forcfathers for financial
and commercial GcSDOtiSm.
If some man would declare that this
talk Of coercion is false. he must go to
some one else besides mo to find a pa
| ticnt and crcdulouS listener to his lying
preaching. Was | not approached in
my own study with subtle threaten
iurs and destinations? Was | not my
self told that should | vote for that
princcly soul whom | am proud to call
my friend. William Jennings Bryan,
whom any man may call his friend. for
he is the friend of man rather than OF
parties; was I not told that should |
vote for him my church would lose the
patronage Of certain influential men
WHO were Intending to become a part
Of my congregation?
Ave. was | not insultrd and humiliat-
ed by being requested by certain in
hividualS who shall be forever namc
less to take my ballot on election day,
my ballot. the sacred crcdcntial of
my manhood and Of my citizenship,
the emblem of that holy sacrament OF
political Fellowship in civic liberty, the
sign and seal Of that divine birthright
which marked nc us a freeman among
frCrmcn; that | should take that badge
of my own personal independence and
show it, alTCady marked for the ballot
box, to certain Republicans who We're
designated and assure them that |
would cast il for William Mckinley:
Think Of it, men! What did | say:
| said this. You go back to the men
who sen yon here and tell them that
this is my reply, Gentlemen, d-n
you"' IGrcat chccring.l And if cvcl
such language is permissible that was
the man, who spoke, and the man is
always larger chan his calling.
From that day | registered Il solemn
VOW that so long as the Republican
party WAS dominated by such Il policy
| would never vote its ticket. And
Will not. so help me God. Nor will
vote for any party which attempts tc
prostitute my manhood. | have never
made this statement public before.
make il NOW in order that some Of my
friends may understand my position
ana the reasons which impcl me tt
take it. Men, am I wrong? Shall any
thing stand higher in any mans csti
nation than his own honor?
Compared with the crime Of 1896
when Il direct blow was made at The
very foundation Of our republican in
stitutiOns, the crime of 1879 is g!
nothing. What does it signify, til,
raising of that immense corruDtio!
fund? What does this openly avowet
participation Of the railroads and O
great corporate bodies and trusts il
national and state politics Indicate
These things Indicate not only a cor
Spiracy Oh the part of the captains 0
industry the owners Of great mo
nopolics and the shrewd operators il
J finance to manipulate the affairs o
state and u political institutions 70
} their oWn advantage, but that the lead
J crS of Il great party, the commercial
and moncyCl magnates of this might.
mental principles Of the republic, hay
ceased from their allegiance to the in
!, &tituti0DS Of our governmental SystcI
and have determined to substitute fo
the free functions Of democracy tn