The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-08-04
Where Rests the Blame +!

The Star of last week has an arti lie on
Sour Reputation Abroad" which, whe-
ther viewed in its statement of facts, or
its logical deduc lions, is certainly very
Interesting. We give portion of the
article which is rs follows:
''The reputation that the State of Wis
consin bears to-day, as viewed from abroad
is certainly such as every good citizen
must and does deplore. We were forc-
bly, impressed by the feeling expressed
towards us while absent from the State
short time sncc-and of the rottenness of
our public officers in the estimation of
persons outside the State.
"The actions of the last Legislature
fairly capped the climax, and loaded the
State with burden, and placed it in a
position, the blackcning, frightening infu-
ence of which, for years cannot be cast
of-however zealously she may struggle
to nd herself of the oolium now resting
upon her fair name, it will cling to her
still. And with whom rests the respon-
slbility! Is it not with Republican
Legislature! Is it not with Il Republican
Governor? By Republicans was an in
vestigation instigated into the affairs of
Railroad Company-and in which the
instigators were promptel-not by pure
motMes-not by political motiyes-but
nr hopes of being bribed again. In this
they failed to realize their expectations,
and the corruption of an Ex-Republican
Governor, and an Ex-Repubican Legis-
lature was brought to light iastead-to
the exonaration of none, but rather to the
implication of all-and the innocent with
the guilty, within the State, arc Judged
alike from abroad. The State paws the
expenses of the invcstigation-the whole
people have the benefit-of the curses
arising in consequence"
If that reasoning does not "cap the
climax" we do not know what will.
Resolve it into q syllog;sn and it will
yead thus:
a great wrong has been DONE
Republicans have exposed this wrong.
Therefore, Republicans are to be held
responsible fos all the consequences OF
this wrong.
Take another illustration Of the same
principle. A man commits crime, the
knowledg re of which will disgrace his
family.
An officer of the law detects the criIni-
nal;
Therefore, it is the officer who is re-
spousibls sor the 0diun of the crime.
Thas the detective is wols, than the
criminal, Is new principle in morals,
and one Which we beg leare to reject
The statement of the Star that the l;stc
Legislature was prompted in its actions
~ the basest of motives, the "hope o.
Icing bribed again." is gratuitous as
sumption with no shadow of proof. The
sincerity of the Stars grief over our tar
nishcd reputation-tho jealousy with
which it watches the fair fame of Wis
oonsin, is beautifully shown in this reek
less snd wholesale charge of mercen any
motives on whole legislative body, with,
out bringing forward a word of proof.
The Star in its zeal to be democratic
Sorgets 10 be truthful and just. 1t is
shocked at Bashford'S corruption, bat
speaks not of Arthur Macarthur, who is
guilty of the same offence. 1t STYLES the
Lribed Legislature Republican, when ii
was strongly Democratic. The facts are
these: The bsibed Legislature was Demo
crate, though some Republicans were
Implicated. The investigation was Re
publican measure, opposed by nearly
every Democrat in the Legislature. The
Republican press has exposed all who
were engaged in the fraud whether party
friends or otherwise; the Democrat,
press on the other hand has shielded anG
sustained its party friends.
We believe the Investigation was ,
wise measure. 1t does not cure diseas,
to ignore its existence, and fostering sores
in the body polite, like those on the ply
steal body, must sometimes feel the blad,
OF the sealpel, or the singing point of thc
Temcrseless probe.