ABSTRACT
Corruption is the natural weapon of a wealthy-minority, as deception is of the weak, and force of the strong. The plutocracy in its invasion of the political field corrupts legislators, administrators, judges, and parties. Before stating the influence of the plutocracy upon politics, therefore, it may be wise to emphasize certain considerations which limit the universality of the conclusions. Today political corruption is menacing, not only because all corruption is immoral and antidemocratic, but because it represents the intrusion into politics of a disciplined and aggressive plutocracy. In any event, it was possible for the plutocracy to capture the Constitution, just as it was possible, several generations ago, for a like capture to be effected by the slave power. The plutocracy benefits by the sharp limitations which the Constitution places upon national and State efforts for reform. The plutocracy gains, and the democracy loses, through the complexity and artificiality of the governmental relations.
