The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-07
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
kDIToRIAL OPINIONS or THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToPICs-ooMPIbRD EVERY
DAY FOR The EVENING TELEGRAPH.
A Clear Case-Alaska.

Efont the N. Y. Tribune.
We are opposed to fishing investig ations by
committees of Congress or State Legislature.
To seud forth five or seven men, armed with
inquisitorial powers, to see II they cannot
hunt up or smell out some moral delinquency,
seems to us not conducive to the ends OF good
government. Investigations should bs ordered
only where facts of public notoriety or aver
ments of guilt by res ponsible parties indicate
a decided probability that wrong exists which
requires ventilation aud may Justify punish
ment. Such, it seems to us, is now the case
of Alaska. Let us give synopsis Of what Is
uDdeDiable:-
|. Russia was the acknowledged owner of a
large tract of frozen territory, consisting of
the northwest corner of this continent, with
the adjacent isles, which we have agreed to
call Alaska.
IL. Governor Seward, as Secretary Of State,
acting under the direction (we must presums)
of President Johnson, proposed to buy aud
ultimately did buy, this territory for the
United States, through treaty negotiated
with Baron Stoeckel, Ambassador OF the Rus
sian Emperor, for 81, 200, 600 in gold.
III. The Senate promptly confirmed this
bargain by ratifyiug the treaty; but the House
hesitated to vote the money, and did not vote
1t, till more than year had elapsed since the
treaty was negotiated; and, though much re-
pugnance had been overcome, respectable
still voted against it.
" Meantime there was much debate on
the matter, in the journals as well as in Con-
gress, and the influence of California was
brought to bear in favor of paying the money.
V. The ST, 200,0 600 in gold have been drawn
from the Treasury in payment for the pur-
chased ice; but it seems that only SIS, 1000, 900
of it, the qaid pro qUo, has really gone to Rus
sia. A London despatch recently stated that
the Barings (our Governments bankers in
LondOn) had remitted to st. Petersburg
Gl, 600 600 sterling in payment for this terri
tory, leaving 81 100000 TO be accounted for.
vi. Mr.. Robert J. Walker, Secretary OF the
Treasury under Polk, was quite active in ad-
vocacy of the purchase or of the payment, on
the floor of the House as We'll as elsewhere.
After the money was drawn from our treasury,
he complained to the Washington police that
he had just been robbed of $1,000 in gold,
which was part of this payment to Russia
for Alaska.
VII. A Washington despatch recently stated
that $40 600 each had been paid, or at least
appropriated to the prominent New York
jOunsls TO secure their advocacy of, or at
least their non-resistance to- the payment of
this 81, 200 GOO.
Here are the "pOints," so far as they are
known to us. There may be more that in
quiry will develop. There may be mistakes
Is 10 one or more of the foregoing. But here
are enough to justify inquiry and to indicate
some of those who can shed additional light
on the transaction. Let Mr.. Walker be re-
quired to state on oath all that ne knows of
the matter; and, if there shall seem to be any
foundation whatever for the $4,000 report, let
the conductors of our several city journals be
examined. The truth can wrong no one, aud
may decidedly edify the public.
If anybody knows of any Sl00 900 in Rus
sian gold lying around loose that belongs to
us, We will thank him to let us know where it
is and under what authority it is held back.
Let us have the truth if not the gold