Iron County register., 1899-02-23
THE CRIME OF 1896.
MeKfnlex's Election Brought About
by Coercion and Corr
Fuptlon.

In q recent address Rev. Burt Estes
Howard, the noted Congregations
preacher of Los Angeles, Cal, said:
| No policy was ever adopted in ths
| history of the world that sayored more
of the sophistry that good end justi
| ned corrupt means 1t is like playing
the harlot TO obtain money 10 put on
the collection plate Do not tell me
that the men who manipulated that
great fund for buying votes, the men
who intimidated and coerced by threats
OF various ealamities the poor voter who
| was forced TO make merchandise of his
man hood in order to hold his position
and save his little ones from starxa-
tlon' do not tell me that these men who
snbVerted the fundamental principles
| OF republican form of government,
the right of independent suffrage and
| the free choice of those who shall rule
over Us. believe in republican institu-
tons They do not. They believe that
they have found something better than
a democracy. They have bartered the
legacy of our forefathers for financial
and commercial despotism.
If some man would declare that this
talk of coercion is false, he must go
10 some one else besides me TO find
patient and credulous listener to his
lying preaching. Was not approached
IN my own study. with subtle threat
enings and insinuations? Was I not
myself told that should / vote for that
prlneely soul, whom I 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 in
1iuential men who were intending to
become part of my congregation?
Aye, was I not insulted and humili-
ated by being requested by certain in
dividuals, who shall be forever name
less, TO take my ballot on election day,
my ballot, the sacred credentials of my
manhood and OF my citizenship. the
emblem Of that holy sacrament of po-
iitical fellowship in civic liberty, the
sign and seal of that divine birthright
which marked me as freeman among
freemen, that should take that badge
Of my own personal independence and
show it, already marked for the bal
lot box, to certain republicans who
were designated and assure them that
/ would cast ii for William Mckinley?
Think of ii, men! What did 1 say?
I said this: You go back to the men
who sent you here and tell them that
this is my reply: Gentlemen, d-n
you!"' Great cheering.) And if ever
such language is permissible that was
the time. 1t was not the minister.
but The man, who spoke, and the man
is always larger than his calling.
From that day registered a solemn
VOW that so long as the republican
| would never vote its ticket. And
viii not, so help me God. Nor will
vote for any party which attempts 10
prostitute my manhood. / have never
made this statement public before.
make 1t now in order that some cf my
friends Inay understand my position
and the reasons which impel me to
take it. Men, am / wrong? Shall any
thing stand higher in any mans esti-
nation than his own honor?
Compared with the crime of 1896,
when direct blow was made at the
very foundation of our republican in
stitutions. the crime of 1873 is as moth
ing What does il signify. the raising
of that immense corruption fund?
What does this openly ayowed partici-
patton of the railroads and of great
corporate bodies and trusts in national
and state politics indicate? These
things indicate not only a conspiracy |
On the part of the captains of industry, |
and the owners of great monopolies and |
the shrewd operators in finance TO ma
nipula1e the affairs of state and our /
political institutions for their own ad- |
vantage, but that the leaders Of a great /
party, the commercial and moneyed |
of this mighty country have |
lost faith in the fundamental principles /
of the republic, have ceased from their |
to the institutions of our |
governmental system and have deter |
mined to substitute for the free func-
tions of democracy the iron rule of a /
financial and commercial despotism."