An Analysis of Political Corruption of American Cities in The Shame of Cities by Lincoln Steffens

Introduction

Lincoln Steffens was a political journalist who became famous for writing a series on the corruption of American cities, titled The Shame of Cities. Steffens focused mainly on the political corruption of municipal governments. He began to doubt the effectiveness of reform politics and believed that they sought to destroy the symptoms of corruption rather than the causes.

Party Loyalty and Political Machines

He also suggested that party loyalty was something that should be left in the past, and everyone should be able to vote as individuals rather than as part of large groups controlled by the government. He often referred to the government and those in high power who seem to be dealing with the issues faced as “political machines.” These “machines” controlled everything, and the common person hardly had any freedom while they were in power. The influence of these political machines extended beyond the government, affecting various aspects of society.

Politics as Business

In The Shame of Cities, Steffens makes a remark, saying, “Because politics is business. That's what's the matter with it. That's what's the matter with everything—art, literature, religion, journalism, law, medicine—they're all business, and all—as you see them” (Steffens, 1904, p. 6). He calls politics strictly business and insinuates that the men in charge only care about the profit they’ll be making in the long run, rather than what would benefit the public. Steffens, like many other reformers, wanted to change this. This statement highlights the pervasive nature of commercial interests that dominate various fields, including politics.

The Commercial Spirit of Politicians

When describing the politicians themselves, Steffens said, “The commercial spirit is the spirit of profit, not patriotism; of credit, not honor; of individual gain, not national prosperity” (Steffens, 1904, p. 7). Politicians, who view politics themselves as strictly business, do not consider the well-being of those affected, but rather only the outcome of their “business.” They look to themselves first, putting the outcome of their business above the public. As long as they succeed, they are happy. This mindset creates a disconnect between the leaders and the people they are supposed to serve.

Proposed Solutions to Corruption

Steffens believed to have found a solution to the corruption in the government. He believed that if political leaders are going to act like “merchants,” then the public should respond in a similar manner. The public should act like the consumers of the “merchants” and demand a good government. By demanding a good government, the political “merchants” will follow the rule of ‘supply and demand,’ and therefore supply a good government. This metaphor of the marketplace emphasizes the power of collective demand in driving political change.

Shared Responsibility and Conclusion

The political leaders are not only at fault, however. Steffens said it’s the people’s fault as well, for allowing the leaders to come and “divert our loyalty from the United States to some ‘party’; we let them boss the party and turn our municipal democracies into autocracies and our republican nation into a plutocracy” (Steffens, 1904, p. 11). Steffens' original intent was to inform people about the corruption in the governments, but his eyes were opened when he realized that the people were at fault as well. The problem wouldn’t be solved as easily as he had hoped, because the people would have to put in an effort to change just as well as the politicians would. This mutual responsibility underscores the importance of civic engagement and accountability in fostering a transparent and fair political system.

References

• Steffens, L. (1904). The Shame of the Cities. New York, NY: McClure, Phillips & Co.