Methods of Reform. 
265 
bank cheques, and as has been well pointed out, many senators 
of the United States (if we may judge by the history of our own 
state about 50 per cent.) cannot with entire delicacy refuse 
their ratification to the purchase of public places when they 
recall that they themselves climbed the golden stair to greatness. 
When cabinet offices are given, like prizes by popular news¬ 
papers, to the persons obtaining the largest number of sub¬ 
scriptions, and the new dignity of ambassador of the United 
States is saved from barter merely because public opinion is 
higher and stronger than the opinion of either the Casino at 
Newport or of the seat of government at Washington, then we 
must conclude that our institutions suffer, though under illus¬ 
trious control, from the touch of gold and not the stroke of steel, 
and that they need statutory protection. 
Among men of our race it is 323 years since the political 
conscience was stung with the sin of venality in elections and 
stirred in its sleep. 
In 1571, for the first time, a fine was imposed for bribery in 
parliamentary elections. It appears by the journals of parlia¬ 
ment for that year that Thomas Lang, returned for Westbury, 
“being found a very simple man and not fit to serve in that 
place was questioned how he came to be elected” and the poor 
man immediately confessed to the house that he gave to Anthony 
Garland, mayor of said town of Westbury and one Watts of the 
same, four pounds for his place in parliament. 
An order was forthwith made that the town officers refund the 
£4 to the bribing member and the corporation was fined £20 
for the scandalous attempt, but the corrupting Thomas was left 
“unwhipt of justice.” Parliament, like the devil, and other 
powers, took care of its own even in this spasm of virtue: but 
this proceeding, not ideally fair, seems to have had but little ef¬ 
fect. 
When by a peaceful revolution constitutional monarchy was 
founded in England in 1688, the famous committee of the com¬ 
mons, headed by the wise and patriotic Sir John Somers, after¬ 
wards the great Chancellor, demanded among other great re¬ 
forms, “that the buying and selling of offices ... be effectu¬ 
ally provided against,” and William of Orange came to the 
^hrone pledged to the redress demanded. 
