The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1870-03-10
WORTH READING.

! Bribery turks at the bottom of the universal
evil of modern society 1t affects everything
No place is too sacred for the polutions OF those
who deal in bribes The country knows the
the fact, but is powerless short of revolution to
arrest the evil Nothing is more generally be-
lieved than that Congressman, Senators, regu-
larry accept brides and sell their votes, speeches
and influence for gold. In this way they have
robbed the land settlers and Indians by dividing
the spoils of treaties with railway corporations;
have peddled the most responsible Offices of the
revenue service; have sold cadetships in the ar
my and navy. and done a thousand crimes which
in moral sense are little short of treason. since
they inevitably weaken the confidence of the
people in our form of Government and under
mine its foundations. Investigations in the
House of Representatives show beyond d doubt
that some dozens OF members OF TINT body
have, within the last two years, accepted brides.
The evidence against one of them (Whittemore
of South Carolina) is strong enough 20 satisfy
the most doubling mind But when the Chair
man of the Military Committee introduces q
resolution to expel the dish0nOred and degra.
ded member, further time 10 moved, and there
arises a general doubt that the House will do 80
just and decent thing as the resolution asks
Why's Because there are so many other mem.
bers implicated and fearful of precedent which
might lead to their own exposure Should SINH
lar investigations be instituted in the Senate
into the motive which secured certain Indian
treaties, revenue appointments. railway sub
sides, etc, we doubt ii the results would not be
damaging TO the honor of that body We have
no disposition to magnify this great evil, but |
when any wrong comes To be matter of gener-
al belief the press should not fail 10 denounce il,
though the highest in authority are implicated |
State Legislatures have in the main acquired |
iishon0rable reputation. They are ruled by the |
lobby, and the lobby is always the enemy ofjus-
Ice and the public welfare 1t buys its way to
wealth. privilege and power with gold, or with |
promises convertible into gold We utter no
libel in stating that the more thoughtful Of the
people have lost all confidence in the integrit,
If average legislative bodies The Courts can
,nly in part be trusted. Here in California,
hey are problbly as yet, in the main, pure aud
ncorrupt. But how long can they stand out
against the prevailing epidemic. under the gen.
,ral pressure of moneyed influence aud the
alarming growth of moneyed power through the
nsdious influence of bribery and vicious laws
Thomas Jefferson is credited with the opin.
pr that IN all free countries popular rcyolu.
ION IS needed every thirty years 10 keep the
moral atmosphere pure and correct the abuses
! wealth and corruption. ~ the rate We
ave progressed in crime and liz ally bribery for
he last SIX ar eight years. IL Is 10 be- feared that
eilersons thirty years rest from revolution
I'LL not BE- realized The guardians OF The law
re everywhere bidding high for revolution and
an outraged people TO take power
Ito their own hands. Already. in New York,
re hear of secret society of laboring men. or.
nnized TO secure to its members that ,protec.
on in person and property from robbers and as
lsins for which they apply in vain TO the
ourts; and this is but the beginning Of reform 4
hch sooner or late. must extend far aud wide
yer the country.-Sdcramsnso onion.
The above extract, although open 10 the objec-
on OF Satan rcbuking sin. is yet too good to be
st. II shows up the condition of things by the
aiding Radical journal on this cuast of the I'D.
OF affairs by the Radical party for
e last eight or ten years, too plainly to need
,mment