Note 111 — VII CORRUPTION AND NOTORIETY: THE MEASURE OF OUR OFFENDING

Note, for example, the very different treatment of the campaign contribution question in the two countries. It may be conceded that America has much to learn from England with regard to the control of election expenditures. On the side of collections, however, it is notorious that in England both political parties unblushingly barter titles for financial support. There is something particularly despicable in this pollution of the “fountain of honour” to procure campaign funds, yet on the rare occasions when the matter is brought up in Parliament its discussion is characterised by hilarity rather than by moral earnestness. In American politics the corresponding evil is felt to be a scandal and as such provokes not only the curative legislation discussed in an earlier study but also much bitter and noisy denunciation.