Evening journal., 1901-05-01

hood, and manhood sbigh prerOga-
tives. for a few dollars, is the most
lmenacing sign Of the times. 1t is a
fact to whose peril no honest. patriotic
'citizen can close his eyes. 1t does moi
palliate the situation to say that money
always has been used in elections; that
one party does II, therefore the other
must resort to- it. Two wrongs do not
make q right. One misdemeanor does
not sanction a series of crimes. The
end never iustifies wrong means, how
ever frequently or plausibly the politi-
cal jesuit may say It does. When bri-
berry was only a secret and dangerous
resource of the scuryy, small politi-
clan. II did no great amount OF harm,
but when 1t becomes the open and
avowed practice of party leaders. who
claim to be respectable, and even re-
ligious. then is our danger immediate
and terrible.
Yet many people fail to see the
wrong, and the ruin OF this practice.
Our people are amazingly blind to it's
iniquity, and its sure issues. A woman
of good sense and sound Judgment in
most things said TO me some time ago.
IF ! had vote / know / should sell
it, if the election was one about which
was not much concerned. In fact. l
never could see why a man should not
sell mis- vote as freely as anything else
he owns" We have men in my town
who contend that It is no more wrong
TO buy and sell votes than it is to buy
and sell horses. From the New York
Christian Advocate ] clipped this ques-
ton, which was evidently put in good
faith: rs it wrong for a poor member
OF the NJ. r. Church to accept a liberal
amount of money for voting at the
coming election. provided the money
Is used for benevolent purposes?' 1t
would seem from these instances that
a great many people are blind to the
sin and degradation Of buying and sell
ing votes. Something must be wrong
or altogether lacking, in the teaching
of our pulpits when such opinions pre-
vail
The use OF money in politics, and the
purchase of power by men of large
means. was probably inevitable as a re-
suit OF increasing wealth, but it was
not anticipated by the fathers of the re-
public. With all the keen foresight of
the statesmen who framed our govern
ment. whose mastery state papers em-
bodied the wisdom and experience OF
all ages, there was one danger against
which they did not provide. They
never anticipated the time when the
attempt would bemade to bribe Legisla-
tures, to buy seats in the Senate cham
Der, and by the accumulation and
shrewd distribution Of great sums Of
money to determine even the choice
Of the chief executive. They could not
anticipate the power of wealth in con-
trolling elections because there were
then no such colossal fortunes IN the
country. or anywhere in the world as
have been accumulated in our day N
acquisition OF immense private for
tunes has given men who are minded TO
do evil a tremendous power fer wroac
doing. With this wealth some good
things have come, the lifting OF col
leges to universities, tho erection OF
Libraries, the erection Of museums. the
endowment Of charities, the extension
OF the church: but IL has brought ser
ious evils also. The most conspicuous
after growth of the increase of wealth,
and the most nOXiOus and abOminabie,
is the millionaire boss, who makes a
business of corruption, and who is
powerful because good men are negli-
gent. or blind. We have men OF great
wealth without conscience enough to
guide them to its proper use. We have
selfish, ambitious men who allow nc
scruples to stand in their way. Sucn
man makes a god of his former servant.
He judges every thing from the coarse
financial standpoint He expects to buy
whatever he wants. from an edible to
an editor; from a watch guard to a gas
plant, from a library to a Legislature
from a sofa cushion to seat in what
he considers the most exclusive club
in the country, and the best vantage
ground from which TO increase his
wealth. He cannot see that the most
precious things in life cannot be
bought He cannot understand that il
takes something besides wealth to
make and maintain a civilization. He
will not see that money given to bribe
voters. threatens the stability of the
social order which makes life safe and
property secure. He is the most subtle
and dangerous and despicable enemy to
the public welfare in the land; a worse
traitor to free institutions than the
man who fired the first gun on Sumter.
for ne who corrupts the ballot under
mines the whole fabric of American
liberties. He is a meaner scoundrel
than the sneak thief. for he takes ad-
vantage of the poverty Of the citizen
TO foist himself into position at the ex-
pense Of debased manhood. He has
brought us face to face with a condi-
tion Of which the founders never
dreamed. He threatens us with a depth
.Of dishOnor below which it is impossi-
BILE to descend; a height Of villainy be.
ycnd which men cannot climb, tri-
umph Of debauchery which staggers the
imagination; a national day of judg-
ment which will humble our pride in
the dust and ashes of our greatness
This country is very vast. and very
rich but in the sight Of God neither
its money, nor its extent, can obtair
its exemption from those eternal law.
before which all nations are as dust il
the balances. No American citizen car
AFFORD to have a single ballot bought c.
sold; nor to have any office under th'
/ uov.,ifnmpnr Opquripd nv any man win