The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-24
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY "a, 1870.
CORRUprION IN CONGRESS.

the Whittemore case will attract universal
attention. The whole scene was invested
with deep dramatic interest. representa-
tive of the people was on trial for the offense
of having been influenced by pecuniary con-
siderations in the discharge of one of his
public duties which is Of comparatively minor
Importance His guilt was established not
only by direct evidence, but by his
own admission, and his defense rested
mainly, if not exclusively, on the plea that
the money he had received was all ex-
pended for the relief of his necessi-
tous constituents. TO give increased
force to this plea, as we'll
as to avail himself of every possible chance
of averting condemnation, he induced his
celebrated colleague, General b. +. Butler,
to appear as his counsel, and to employ in his
behalf the artifces commonly resorted to in
Court of Quarter Sessions to shield profess
sional criminals from punishment. General
Logan as Chairman of the Committee on
Military Affairs, however, conducted the pro-
seoution so vigorously that every movement
made by the defendant and his counsel was
completely baffied. The attempt of the de-
fense to counteract the influence of the news
paper press of the country on the matter
under discussion was especially abortive.
There may be some ground for Buffers attack
on Washington correspondents but if they
are guilty, as he alleges, of writing lies to the
journals with which they correspond, they
are infinitely more apt to commit that offense
when they applaud, or apologize for, members
of Congress than when they assail them. We
admire Buffers pluck in avowing his determi-
nation to do his duty ''before God and man,
independent of newspapers" but the reason
that he gave for this course, to wit, that if
there was anything on earth to which he was
superior it was newspapers, was supremely
ridiculous, and we do not wonder that it
evoked the general laughter of the House.
Mr. Logan completely disposed of the TRADE
against the press by his reply that
"If members OF the House were willing to sell
themselves like sheep in the shambles, he did not
sion Of thus case were to be postponed The people
would have rightto suspect all OF them"
Newspapers would deserve the contempt
with which Butler treats them if they did not
direct the attention of their readers to we'll
established charges Of corruption. Their
great sin is not in ''howling" too much, but
too little, about the peculations of public men,
The plea of the defense that the money re-
oeived for cadetship was used for charitable
purposes was demolished by Logan's retort
that, sif this excuse would be admitted they
would find members of Congress going to
work and building churches in their districts,
and then selling their Uotes in the House in
aid of aso,s a,r0jects." If the Government is
to be managed as charitable institution this
should be done openly, SO that the people
would know exactly to what objects their
money was donated, and that all deserving
charities might have fair chance for help.
If these matters are to be left to the secret
discretion of the representatives of the nation,
however, there is great danger that for every
dollar devoted to good purpose at least ten
will be given to scheming adventurers.
The debate produced such a manifest dis
position to expel the defendant, that he for
@ warded his resignation to the Governor OF
South Carolina last night, and to this ex
tent the House is purged of corrupt material
A good beginning has thus been made, but
after all, it is only beginning. General
Butler insinuated in his speech that the sale
of cadetships had grown up to bt
a custom If this be true, it merely
shows that Whittemore should not b.
made scapegoat for the sins o
equally wicked colleagues, but that permis
sion to return to private life should b.
speedily granted to many of his associates
No mental qualities can atone for pronenes
to corruption. England set noble exampl
when she deposed and disgraced the creates
Of her public men for bribery. The homes
judgments of comparatively dull intellect
viii guide the nation with infinitely NOR
safety than the wisdom of talented but selfis
knaves.
The principle laid down by the action G
the House in the Whittemore case should b
strictly and speedily carried out to its logicl
conclusion at Washington, at Harrisburg,
municipal governments, and wherever me
serving in representative capacity sell oil
their constituents. If the heavy burdens
taxpayers are to be lightened, this courf
will speedily become vital necessity. Co
ruption is the crying evil of the age, and it
doing moro now to wreck our republics
system than any other single cause. 1t shou
be checked at all hazards, and by the mo
effective methods that can be devised.
The PoPE has put in plea for the equal
of all men before the law. Some one show,