Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-02-23
3 !. & = & :; = :. = + :: = :. =
). Champ CIark's :.
Lack of Harmony -
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81 ~ Political
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NO more can it be disputed that a
moral wave OF cyclonic power is sweep
ing OYER the land at the present time.
The exact time or place of its begin
ming cannot be fixed with anything ap
proximating exactness. Neither can
the person be named who started it..
The truth seems to be that it WAS a
case OF many minds with but one
thought and one desiIethe pufifca-
ton of politics and OF legislation 1t
has been confined to no locality, to no
party and to no branch of the public
service. A Republican president of
the United States has lent a hand SO
has the present Democratic governor.
of Missouri. So has Il Democratic
mayor of Chicago So have the Repub-
lican authorities of Minneapolis. A
chief OF the greatest division in the
postofiice department aud his parti-
cops criminis are in felons' cells. Sem
ator Burton of Kansas was convicted
of a grave lnisdemeanor. His case was
revived and remanded He now awaits
a new trial Senator Mitchell and the
iNC REPRESENTATIVES, LlVlil SJiSsSQAs w
gether with Il horde of smaller officials
from that state. are under indictment
\ mayor of one of the Twin Cities of
Minnesota was convicted of Il felony
While circuit attorney of st. Louis
Governor Folk sent several officials to
the penitentiary Bigwlgs are being
prosecuted in California and in Texas.
Senator Dubois promises startling rev
Citations Of the fraudulent perform
ances Of federal officers Id Idaho if he
may be permitted to lift the lid A
reforiner in Illinois who could not
corruption in the legislature has been
expelled from that body There is
much talk of corruption iii Kansas,
and III that state there is an agitation
on to enact statute making the so
letting of brihe a penal offense be
cause the Kansas supreme court has
Just decided that soliciting a bride is
not Il crime under any law now exist
ing
The New York Bar association is now
considering charges against a high ju-
dicia officer Of that state Congress is
now engaged in impeachng Judge
Charles Swayne of Florida for high
crimes and msdemeanors Half Of the
state legislatures are incubating Sc
verer laws Oh the subject of bribery
and boodling. The retiring governor of
Indiana in his valedictoly address de
scribed condition Of election corrup-
ton in IIoosierclonr Which is almost in
credible in the blazing light of the
opening years OF the new century Eeen
in Philadelphia there are signs of polit-
zeal regeneration. There appears to be
a general shaking up all along the line
except in Delaware. In that little state
the biehniul senatorial scandal now
smells to heaven, with no sign of abate-
ment. All these efforts al reform in ma
tional state and municipal affairs work
together for good Some mistakes may
he made. Some innocent persons may be
wrongfully charged With offenses, but
ii 50 their innocence will be made to APP
pear Every where the people are show
ing determination to put an end to
corrupt practices in elections and in
legislation. When the public conscience
is thoroughly aroused it can work Won
ders. and it is becoming thoroughly
aroused In 'the good old days of
which we hear 50 much sometimes
more than 100000 was expended in
purchasing Il single seat in parliament
but in recent times a member was ex-
PEELED from the house of commons be-
cause during his canvass he had paid
for Il dinner for a voter. The world
seems to be growing better despite the
howl of the pessimists OF course it has
not reached perfection yet If it had
there would be no room for reforms
and reformers. But the reform agita-
ton now shaking the land will help, let
US hope. to shove it on toward ultimate
perfection. which is the millennium