The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-21
Alaska and the Lobby.

perhaps, the coolest operation Of that cool
dIplomatist. Yet the operation was altogether
too ridiculous to meet with universal COM
mendation on the part Of the people who are
Obliged to provide Mr.. Seward with the means
required for carrying on the ice business en-
such magnificent scale. By hook or crook
perhaps from the mere audacity Of the scheme
Alaska slipped through the Senate as II 1t
had been so many million tons Of grease. By
the ratification Of the purchase treaty by the
Senate, the nation was unfortunately bound
to pay over the 81, 200, 900 and make the bsst
of its 10y bargain. There was no other horn
to the dilemma, except never ending wraugle
with Russia, to oulminate in war. For this
reason alone, the House of Representatives,
after much quibbling, finally passed a bill ap-
propriating the money, and with that We had
hoped that the end of the farce had bsen
reothed.
Yst the appropriation bill was scarcely
through all its stages before the air began to
be loaded Down with rumors of the corrupt
practices which had been resorted to in order
to get it through the lower house Of Congress.
These rumors have at last taken tangible
shape, and the Hon. Robert J. Walker, some
time Governor Of a State, Senator OF the
United States, and Secretary Of the National
Treasury, has the brazen effrontery to come
before the American people with the confession
that he received from Baron Stoeckl the sum
of S26, 900 in return for helping to push the
iceberg through Congress. With indignation
MIR. Walker repels the insinuation that he did
this in the character of lobbyist, asserting
that he regards his action in the matter as
perfectly legitimate, and his services we'll
worth the fee he received.
1t appears that Mr.. Walker began his career
as agent and attorney for the Russian Gov
ernment in the Alaska business as early as
1845, while he was still acting as Secretary of
the Treasury. He then recommended the
purchase of that Esquimaux paradise to Presi-
dent Polk's administration, and from time to
time contributed articles to the newspapers in
support Of the scheme, and finally, about a
year ago. succeeded in this manner in attract
ing the attention of Baron Stoeckl. Then
Mr.. Seward entered into the business, and
Mr.. Walker pitched upon the Washington
Chronicle as the future organ for his icy efu-
sions. Mr.. D. C. Forney, the publisher OF
that journel, it appears, willingly gave up
its columns to Walkers long
winded disquisitions, and the queer
est part of the whole proceeding is the
reluctance exhibited by Mr.. Forney about ac-
oeptiDg from Baron Stoeckl a gratuity Of
$4,000 In return for this kindness. 1t vas
only after Colonel J. w. Forney, the propri-
etor of the Chronicle--and of another daily
also, as is we'll known,-had declined the
gratuity because of his scru pies as an
officer of the Senate, and after Mr.. Walker
and the generous Russian Baron had repeat
edly urged its acceptance upon him, that Mr..
d. C. Forney finally consented to pocket the
$4,000. We are not quite certain that We are
entirely right in the matter of Mr.. FJrneys
motives, but we think that he at last yielded
to the entreaties OF the Baron and the attor-
my simply to get rid of their importuuities,
like the man in Scripture who crawlei on: of
his warm bed to drive the bsggar from his
door by giving him the three loaves which he
demanded.
Whether there was anything more repre-
heusihle in the final contamination of Mr..
Stewards ice bargain or not, We are not "a ye.
informed. The House Committee on Public
Expenditures, however, are still engaged in
probing the matter, aad in due time We shall
probably learn what became of every dollar OF
the 81, 200, 900. But, even If it should be
found that we have reached the most repre-
hensble part OF the business already, we think
all candid persons, and more especially those
who boar the burdens of taxation, will unite
in denOuncing Mr.. Walkers course, as we'll as
that of the amiable Baron Stoeckl. II an ex-
Senator and ex, Secretary of the Treasury is at
liberty to accept of $4,000 for dOctOring up
the ideas of Congressman to ST. 100000
worth of ice, pray where is this thing
10 stopf 1t is our opinion that Senator
Sumner is quite as good an authority on the
market value of Ice as the ex-Secretary, and
that his four hour speech in the Senate was
Irritating enough to provoke Congress into
purchasing all the ice in the Polar Sea if a
ess quantity would not suffice to cool the
fevered and bewildered brows of members. In
other words, the House of Representatives
is supposed to know thing or two; and even
If there are a few facts lying without the
scope of their knowledge, we doubt If all of
its members subscribe for the Chronicle, and
If those who do subscribe to it are in the
habit of perusing two-column letters on
the ice trade as an appetizer before
breakfast. Call yourself what you
will, Mr.. Walker, the mass OF the American