The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-13
THE CORRUPTION OF THE BAL
LOT

| Carolina we are apt to think we are
| not tainted with the same crime. In
| those States bribery has come to be
recognized as fixed and settled de-
partment of politics. and that a large
| fund to buy fioaters is essential in the
| conduct of campaign. The growth
of this national crime has been so
rapid as to endanger our free institu-
tons. In 1896 one party spent six
teen millions to debauch suffrage and
this year the same party has spent
eight million dollars for the same pIr-
pose. The other party also expended
some money in trying to fight the devil
with fire. 1t was absurd to try to
fight the devil with his own weapons
and it always invites defeat and ruin.
[ ''The only way" as Judge Bleckley
once said, ito fight the devil is with
fruits. Fire is the devils own weapon
and he can always win with it. But
he knows nothing of Truth and if you
| fight the devil with that weapon you
| have him at a disadvantage.
Compared with the corrupt use of
money in elections in New York and
Indiana, the corruption of that sort
in North Carolina is very small but
it exists here in a way quite as rep
rehensible though in a smaller de-
gree. 1t is as great a sin to buy votes
in Wilkes county through illegal dis
tilleries, run by the laches or con-
nivance Of public officials, as to buy
them in 'fiocks of five with money in
Indiana. The people of North Caro-
lima cannot stop the bribery and de-
bauchery in other States, but they can
put an end to it here in their own
State.
The election on Tuesday, November
Sth in North Carolina was compare
lively free from bribery or debauchery
of the voter. That was due to three
things: 1. A healthier public senti-
ment; 2.The Watts laws. The alb
sence of hot contests. But in several
counties the purchase of votes and
the debauchery of voters was so gross
as to call for active steps to punish
those guilty of it and organization
to prevent a repetition. Wilkes, STAN
ly and Henderson counties are the
three in which this corruption reached
high water mark.
In Stanly the Democratic majority
of $50 was converted into a Repub-
lican majority of ninety. This was
in small part due 10 apathy and Dem
ocratc differences, but, according to
the Stanly Enterprise, it was mainly
due to bribery, whisixey and other VIC
fous and corrupt methods. After
enumrating the agencies employed to
get the vote for Blackburn, the En-
terprise says:
mo party Will survive long such
practices of corruption, and it is but
a question of time until the people
who have made possible this reward
upon evil doing will arise TO crush
what they gave life to.
Democrats can truthfully say their
campaign has been clean and above
board. This is what the Republicans
party cannot truthfully claim as to
Stanly.
In Henderson county the same con-
ditions prevailed. The Hendersonville
Hustler discussing the growth of the
evil in that county. says:
I'VE speak now of the floaters.-
the political heelers that sell their
birthright for a mess of pottage.
This vile class of humanity crawled
out from its hiding or the Sth and ex-
erciSed it's rights of free American
citizenship''-tha is to say, one of
the rights, sold it's votes to the high
est bidder, in money or whiskey,
which gave it to the Republicans, who
had the biggest barrel. They always
have that in this county. We have
heard much of late in this State and
county of the DISTINGUISHING of GER
tain classes and much has been said
for and against it, but we believe no
honest man of any political party
would object to the denial of the priv
ilege of voting to this loathsome set.
Let it be understood that we speak
of these only who sell their votes.
They are a danger and curse to
any country, worse than traitors, they
sell to either and often to both sides
and prove traitors to both.
THE increase of this element in our
voting population is becoming alarm
ing and we cannot see where it Will
end. 1t would seem from present APP
pearance that the time would soon
come when public offices would be
put up and sold to the highest bidder.
1t is now almost impossible for any
man to be elected to office unless he
be a man who has and is willing to
spend money for it. And meanwhile
the floaters increase and learn to ask
for a higher price for their votes.
This debauchery of the franchise is
making it well nigh hopeless for any
man, or party to enter the field of
politics without a bag or money And
yet We shall continue to hope that
there will be a stop and a turning.
Surely the good people will see where
this thing is leading us in time to
save our country from the fate of the
Roman Republic.
THE hope of our county, State and
nation lies in the strength and in
tegrlty of the unpurchasable, think
ing middle class who will do the right
when they understand what the right
is"
The conditions in Wilkes are even
worse than in Stanly and in Hender-
son. The good people of Wilkes
(and there are no letter people any
where than are to be found in that
county-owe it to themselves to or
ganize a Law and Order League to
protect themselves from the fragrant
corruption that was attendant upon
4 oa lat 10 10,