Arizona republican., 1903-03-17

nicipal government. More than eighty per cent o: the citizens are indifferent and less than ten per cent of the vot- CTS take an active part in party man. agement. Everything has been left to those who make a trace of politics, and too often, these have become reck less of public opinion and as bold as the free booters of old. Proof of this may be seen in the recent disclosures In St. Louis and Minneapolis, in the wholesale corruption in Maryland and Montana, in the political murders in Kentucky and in the Tammany des potism in New York.
 A sound, Enlightened public senti- ment would sweep such politics from the face of the earth.
 Corruption in politics is not a thing of itself, but q reflection of the ideas, beliefs and moral standards of the peo- pie back of the party. Fisher Ames remarks, Constitutions are but paper. society is the substratum of govern ment.' If we would improve the polit- teal conditions we must begin with tire moral and political sentiments Of the people, otherwise, as has been said, it is like trying to change the shape of a shadow without changing the ob- ject reflected" Lecky, the English his torian, in Democracy and Liberty ,'' says: No feature of American life strikes a stranger so powerfully as the extraordinary indifference, partly cyn icism and partly good nature, with which notorious frauds and notorious corruption in the sphere Of politics are viewed by American public opinions. D And in speaking of the corruption of a franchise. he saysI Sometimes the voter will be directly bribed or intimi- dated. He will vote for money and drink. or. an order to win the favor CT to avert the displeasure of some one | more powerful than himself. A still larger number Of votes will be won by the persistent appeals to class cupidi- | ties and prejudices."
 Tbis is, undoubtedly, true of a small percentage of voters in many districts and these too often carry the balance of power. Ignorant and indifferent voters are ready and pliable material in the hands of the demasogue.
 If there is in Phoenix a corruptihle vote which interruptions men may use | to override the wishes of the bulk ot the intelligent citizens and tax-payers means should be devised to wipe out this great menace to democratic gov ernment. If you have not sufficient jails you can build them. If you have not a sound public sentiment you should create it. If the men who have made Phoenix are not able to do thia | they are rot the men I take them tc be.
 In Indiana they have enacted a law | which eXempts the bribe taker bu, punishes the bribe giver by disfran- chisement and subjects him to a heavy fine and also enables the man who is bTibed to sue in the courts and gef judgment against the bribe-giver, think, for two hundred dollars m eacf case. A few convictions under this law put a. stop to this most dangerous form Of corrupt politics. Men able to buy votes were unwilling to put themselve: in the power of such men as could b. bought. Under the old law punishins both the giver and taker of bribes i was almost impossible to convict.
 An honest, intelligent ballot lies a the very foundation of free institutions Any condition which tends to corrup
 the elective franchise rots the bailo ] of it's value in the estimation of tn voting masses, lowers the plane O
 public morals and destroys that re spect for government and for the ad
 ministration of law. which is essentia
 to the existence of a republic.
 We want more devotion to politics
 using the word in its true and broade scnse. Every intelligent citizen should
 belong to his political club and par.ici
 pate in all the preliminary caucusin
 and organization. As has been said
 Here is the road to power, if homes
 citizens neglect and despise it and hon
 est ambition shams it. interruption
 men will continue to make the most O
 it for their own ends."
 Nominations of candidates are mad
 by a very small minority, while tn