The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-14
JUDGE VAN WICK ON SPECIAL
PRIVILEGE.

The speeches at the Jefferson BAN
quets last night were pregnant with
timely truths. The spirit of Jeffer-
son permeated them all and therefore
they were sound to the core. One of
the best was delivered by Judge Au-
gustus Van Wyck in New York on
THE Spirits of Jefferson Still Lives. "
He not only enforced the ancient
principles of the Democratic party,
as vital now as when enunciated by
Jefferson, but discussed the important
problems that confront the American
people of today. He dwelt particu-
larly upon the necessity of a pure
ballot and the menace of corrupt leg
islation. He told Of the use to which
enormous campaign contributions
have been put in the last three pres
idential elections and urged that it be
made a crime for campaign commit
tees to expend moneys except
for legitimate expense, and added that
no law would accomplish much UNI
less it had behind it San awaken
ing of the moral sense of the public
machine made district attorneys to see
that the crimes OF their political spon-
sors must be punished, or some ma
chine-made governor breaks from his
environment to an appreciation of the
fact that the honor of his position is
entirely imaginary unless he cOnvinces
such district attorneys that they will
be removed unless such crimes are
punished. Such a governor or sin
gle district attorney in this State
would stamp out the nefarious prac-
tice for a generation. No better proof
of this can be given than to remem-
Der the work single handed of Gov
ernor Folk, of Missouri"
Continuing Judge Van Wyck thus
commented on the greatest crime and
evil and scandal of this age:
'"The crime of the age most fatal to
good government and to the morality
of society is the sale of law by the
Legislature granting special privileges
and favors to our great capitalists so
citizens of the nation, in which the
black horse cavalry of both parties
are found combined together in this
nefarious traffic. This offense is like
the deadly effect of the upas tree
upon those induced to rest under it's
beautiful shade. The so-called public
spirited citizen betrays his trust. The
majority party trusted with the re-
sponsibility of legislation is faithless
and the minority party, the mission of
which is the exercise of eternal vigi-
lance upon the conduct of the other,
is partially drugged. The honest mem
bers become hopeless and in despair
are apt to become inattentive and
careless. The most important work
that can be undertaken by the Demo-
cratic minority in the National and
State Legislatures is to drive out of
their party the black horse cavalry,
and then unselfshly antagoniZe and
expose all dishonest, corrupt and per-
nicious legislation and keep this up
until the public becomes familiar with
the bad bills and the bad legislators.
No greater service can be rendered
our country than this. No greater
victory can crown the brow of the
faithful public servant than that
which would result therefrom."
Judge Van Wyck urged that the
Democracy create outside of the ma
chine some force with the sole duty
of preventing, detecting and exposing
election frauds and corruption in all
public matters and driving out of Of
flee bribe-takers of both parties