The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-12
pURG1NG OFFICE OF MALFEAsANoE

From the Chicago Republican ,...f...Ilg. l.... A..
If any evidence was lacking to prove that
the Republican party is earnest, downright,
manly, sincere and full of integrity and pa
triotism, that evidence would be forthcoming
in its conspicuous zeal and fidelity in dealing
out equal and exact justice, without distinc-
ton Of person, to its own members guilty of
malfeasance in Office. Nowhere do we find
any attempt to screen any official, however
high his station or powerful his influence,
from deserved punishment, under a fine
spun cloak of excuses and apologies.
Despising all fripperies and claptrap,
rising far above the mere partisan con-
siderations of the moment, and alive to
the importance of proving their faith by their
works, the Republicans of the House of Con-
gress have not hesitated, even for an instant,
to arraign, try, convict, expel, and declare
unworthy to.hold seats upon the floor of that
body, any member who is discovered to be a
faithless servant of the people, and disgrace
to the high and responsible position he fills in
that branch of the councils of the nation.
Nor do we believe that the Senate would be
less swift than the House, under the like cir
cumstances, to afix the brand OF shame upon
the guilty forehead of any one OF its own
members.
But Washington is not the only place where
Republican faithfulness refuses to so tamper
with the bandage about the eyes OF Justice,
that she may furtively peer from underneath
to discover whether the accused belongs to
the majority or the minority, and thus learn
whether or not she is to make heavy or light
the blow of her avenging sword All honor
to the State Of louisiana Her Senate, sit
ting as court of impeachment has declared
by unanimous vote that dishonest man, an
extortioner, faithless servant of the
people, shall no longer disgrace one Of
the highest positions in the State than
is necessary to prove his guilt. In
obedience to that irreversible but Just
fiat, George M. wicklife, Auditor of
Public Accounts for Louisiana, charged with
a violation of the Constitution and laws, in
being uumindful of the high duties of his
Office and Of his official oath, has been igno-
miniously elected from the responsible place
to which he had been elected by confding
constituency, and goes forth into the world
not only shorn of his official station, but dis
qualified ever again to hold any Office of
honor or trust under the State The offense
for which this punishment was inflicted was
for overdrawing specific appropriation By
the Legislature; issuing warrants to parties
who had not complied with the express pro
visions of the law; and trading in thes'
warrants, with fraudulent and self-ag
grandizing intent, to the detriment AM
disgrace OF the State, and to the committln
of high crime and high misdemeanol
Auditor Wicklffe was defended by an abb
counsellor, whose six hours speech IN behal
of his client was signal proof OF his ski
ingenuity, and great resources as crlmini
advocate; but the frauds and robberies cou
mitted upon the State Treasury, in thre
hundred separate cases, according to the ale