The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-13
SUNDAY. AUGUST u. 1899.
TUE PURCHASE SYSTEM IN poll
ITICS

The Times proposes, az IT has IRE
quently said. to take no part in the COM
test Tor Senator between Governor Tyler
and senator Martin. The Times fights
for principles. and not men, and so long
as those principles are accepted by an as
the basis Of action which The Times
thinks lie al the bottom of an good and
orderly government. The Times is per
fcctly content to leave the choice Of rep
resentativcs TO the people themselves.
But this resolution OF The Times is in
no way inconsistent with its duty TO
comment upon phases of the contest as
81 develops where those phases bring into
view incidents which The Times thinks
inconsistent with the elementary princi-
pies upon which all good government
must rest. one of those incidents is
brought out By tho publication OF the
statements Of Mr.. Wingheld, Of Abe
marie. and Of Governor Tyler in reply
TO II.
whatever else may be thought OF these
statements, IT Is perfectly clear that Mr..
Winghcld approached Governor Tyler
upon the hypothesis that Representatives
in the legislature were TO be trafiicked
in Just as horses are traded for upon the
courthouse green whether Governor
TYLER turned a willing ear 20 Mr.. Wing
fields solicitations. as MIR. Wingiield
claims. or not. fl is beside our purpose to
discuss But that the interview was un-
dertaken upon the hypothesis that repre-
sentatlvos could be traded for as cattle
are. and that that is O. legitimate method
OF political procedure. Is as clear as the
MONDAY sun.
We suppose this method of seeking cleo
ton 10 a desired Office has become $50 in-
grained in our system that st will be
very difficult if not impossible TO eradi-
cate it now And yet st must surely go
on corruptnr ODE public service until
after awhile au offices viii be bought ana
sold. and no men viii Doe found tn office
but corrupt men. For &c IS hard 20 un-
derstand how sDlfrespecting mana
man who can Doe trusted 20 resist temp
tations 10 his own aegrand.zament-can
De willing TO enter into a contest for
place OF honor and profit 81 DE is TO secure
It by purchasing the votes that are TO
elect him 20 it We have long thought
that the danger 90 our republican insti-
buttons lies just at This pont We do not
see CLEARLY how Che practice is to be ar
rested and set we see clearly that 1t
must end ia AN officers being corrupt
men and how our institutions can be
saved If att representatives. are corrupt
We cannot ind rstand.
Tho vice in IN, system IS not confined TO
rewards for those who 60 what s desired.
sired u IS "a system o, punishment also.
and those who fan Co comply with the
wishes OF the political boss arc made to
feel his dspeasure in no uncertain way
We shall not assume that Dr. Quesen-
berry was defeated for the Ilous, of Dele
gates IN 1893 because De refused to give
the pledge that was asked Of him. though
Governor Tyler plainly thinks so. But
the experience OF everyone in politics of
the kind tells him that that is the way
the thing s. always DONE and that # is
well nigh as effective IN demoralizng
free agent and subdulng him 20 obedience
10 the will Of the boss as the other side
Of the policy which doles out TO him re-
wards when he is good.
The whole system Is horrible. and all
good men should put their heads together
70 see If something cannot be done to
bring II 10 an end.