Hutchinson gazette., 1899-01-05
THE ONLY REMEDY.
CORRUPTION MAY DE KILLED
by DIRECT LEGISLATION.
The Causes Which Overthrow Govern.
mcnts In tho Fast arc UNDERMINING
this and can only be met by tho Peo-
plc Taking Charge of Public Affairs

po Thhlng ChhrRo or Puhllo AnAirp
Never before IN hns tho public mind
been so agitatcd concerning political
corruption rs at present Our legisla-
tive bodies and executives are openly
charged with receiving bribcs and with
lootlng the public treasuries Nor are
the charges conacd to any one section
or applied to members Of any partlcu-
lur party, for these accusations are
made all over the country,
In almost every community there
have been spasmodic revolts against
ring and "boss" rule and tho out
raged citizens have endeavored TO
purge away political corruption by
election on "reforn" platforms those
who promised TO inaugurate all nun
ncr OF good laws. But after securing
the offices, many Of the blatant re-
formers ~ have frequently followed
tho corrupt procticcs OF their predc-
cessors, and, in some cases, exceeded
In roscality "tho rascals turned out"
Under such circumstances tho buncoed
public, having no redress, sullehly ac-
cepts the situation und becomes dis
gusted with reform in general, and
usually at tho next election permits
tho ring TO be reinstated. There seem.
ingly being few honest men who will
accept public Office, or who, II honest
when elected, can Withstand tempta-
tion, the people rightly reason that 1t
Is better TO keep those in power who
are at least free from hypocrisy.
Under our present system Of govern
ment II is simply impossible to perlna-
nently correct the existing political
evil. Citizens may organize themselves
into Business Mems Leagues" "citi-
zens' Unions" ard the like organiza-
tlons; they may fight at tho polls for
"reform" candidates from now unto
the end Of time, and no real perma-
nent good shall ever be accomplished.
Just so long as our executives and leg
islators remain free from the direct
control Of the people, just so long will
tho lobby be maintained, corporations
continued TO be entlToned in power,
franchise grabbed and public plum
dering be carried on, And just so long
as political parties are permitted to
exist shall boss rule continue and tina
chine" nominations be made.
Every student of history who inves-
tigates tho present economic condi-
tions states that the causes that pro-
duced every revolution in the past were
similar to what we are nov cxperienc-
ing, and hence they predict tho early
downfall Of our republic. None give IL
more than so years Of life, and very
many say the revolution may occur be-
fore 1908. And it does not require a
student of history or Of economies to
prophecy our political future, for al
most anyone can plainly discern the
dangers that confront ourrepublic and
see that u crisis in the affairs Of the
nation is close at hand,
Can this impending revolution be
averted? No. The revolution is bound
to come, but the all'important question
is, shall II be peaceful or otherwise-by
the ballot or by the bullet? Shall it be
without a ripple of outward excitment
or shall we have in our midst horrors
perhaps u hundred fold greater than
these OF the French revolution? II all
depends upon whether we continue our
pres ent system Of indirect legislation,
or substitute for II "a government Of,
by and for the people,"
II ia asked; Is not this government
Of the people? Have wO not the best
form Of government ever devisedP"
Emphatically, MOI 1t Is n government
"of the people" in name only--in real
lty 1t Is government Of, by and for the
trusts, the corporations, the "boodlers"
Of every kind; IL has now become plu-
tocratic obligarchy II it were gov
ernment OF, by and for the people
few "eminently respectable gentlemen
would not have acquired tho Phila-
delphia gasworks without competition;
steam aud street railway corporations,
the sugar trust and like blood-sucking
octopi would not control our legisla-
lures, nor would Wall street dictate
our financial and Cuban policies.
What is the true remedy for all this
rottenness? How can we save our re-
public from its impending dissolutionP
BY what means can we avert the fast
approaching reign Of terror Is there
u plan of governments plan that Is
practicable, that has been tried and
found to be perfect after which we can
copy? Yes, in Switzerland such plan
can be found. We went to far-off Aus
tralia for ballot law, now let us follow
the Swiss in their method Of logisla-
tion.