The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-06-30
Bribery.
From the Louisville Courier.

"A lew Uay6 bSO VIC SOWiuouVou ~ p'AAo
terms upon the fact that . great many per-
sons have made presents to Gen. Grant for
the evident purpose Of obtaining Official
favors from him, and he has almost uni
formly bestowed the expected favors, and
we denounced this as bribery to all intents
and purposes. The editor of the States.
man, the Radical organ at Lexington, is or
pretends to be shocked at our language,
which he calls outrageous. He invokes a
convention of the editors of Kentucky to
rebuke US. We do not fear the voice Of an
editorial convention. We should like
much to hear the decision of such q body
upon the subject in question. We should
be glad to listen to the opinion of any hon.
est and dispassionate man in regard to 1t.
Should the receiving Of gifts VIGOROUSLY
made with view to Office and the bestow-
al of the Office in return for the gifts be
regarded as constituting or involving bri-
berry? Who can doubt it, Is not the
idea of doubt in such case absurd
Well, We suppose that no intelligent
person can conscientiously question the
fact that President Grant has bestowed
many Offices in return for gifts. The most
prominent of the Republican organs them
selves have admitted this and expressed
their condemnation Of it. Some Of them,
while admitting 1t, treat it as uhdeserviDg
of one word of defense or palliation. No
body 10 simple enough to think it possible
that, il old MIR. Borie were poor man OF
| il he hadn't been the chief contributor Of
q valuable house and lot to Grant, be
would have been appointed Secretary o
the Navy, or would now be kept In thu
Office single day. All know that he oh
tanned the place and holds 1t in virtue OF I
valuable consideration, and that, Whethel
the affair is called bribery or not, it Is bri
berry. We care not for ecords, we look Il
thinos. Our ministers abroad and our civ
il and military officers at home are forbid
den BY law to receive foreign presents, ane
the purpose Of the law is to prevent bribe
ry, yet there is just as much danger Of bri
berry from permitting the acceptance Q
home presents as foreign ones. The Sec
rotary Of the Treasury has, within the las
few days, prohibited custom.honse officer
from taking gifts from the importers Q
merchandise, and the whole object OF tn
prohibition is to prevent bribery. Their
is as much reason why the Presiden
should be guarded by law against tempts
tons to home bribery as why any othe
officers should be, but unfortunately he
2 not. Still if he bestows ofices or othe
t official fayors as rewards for presents, b
. lie Just as guilty politically and morally .
!, if the strongest possible guards OF legisl'
! ton we're thrown around him.
III Let no one tell ne that Grant is abov
q suspicion of bribery. He is below susp
cion. Suspicion Of guilt is in his cal
swallowed up in the very certainty OF IT,
> The character of his transaction with NJ
q Bowen, the late Mayor Of Washington,
; familiar to the public. He sold his houl
;. in that city to Bowen for $4,000. and
;. part Of the amount was paid to bind Il
y bargain. Then came Stewart. Of Ne
# York, and others, Offering him $4,000
j. and, notwithstanding the previous sal
: the offer was accepted. But trouble e
9 lsued with Bowen, who finally relinquish'
the house and received the exceeding
valuable appointment Of postmaster,
70 though he had not been previously spok'
= of for the place. A more manifest case
y bribery was never made out against 9 pu
: lie fanctionary or . private citizen. ~
IT house was delivered to Grant, and :
J. consideration promptly paid to Bowen.
Let the Radical editor at Lexington {
70 tain, by all means, the verdict OF an edit
y rial convention of Kentucky upon o
f. charge against the President and the 10
= lpuaee in which we have made it. Let b
" not give bimselfa moments rest till :
q decision shall be pronounced.