PUBLIC SPIRIT 



But the most dangerous and reprehensible 

 anarchy of all consists in debauching the 

 ballot, the purity of which is vital to a free 

 polity like ours. No Hungarian govern- 

 ment haters, no Italian Mafia, no Irishmen 

 fresh from the bog, are able to do the mis- 

 chief to our American institutions which is 

 done by reputable citizens in breaking 

 down by the use of money the civic virtue 

 of the masses. There is no excuse for this. 

 The best people who do it think thereby to 

 elect the right men and secure good laws. 

 It will be in vain. Any temporary and ap- 

 parent victory gotten so must be at the risk 

 of fearful reaction. You cannot secure 

 good laws by processes which inevitably kill 

 out the spirit of law. Lawlessness must 

 follow that course sure as night the day, 

 and those who have thus sedulously pre- 

 pared for it cannot complain when they 

 find that they themselves are the victims. 

 When they see their property and their 

 rights voted away, or it may be even their 

 houses burned down, they will have them- 

 selves to thank in that they did not trust our 



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