Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-07
From the New York Evening Post, Sept. 81
DO0IiIiIc,s Ilnd2inn.


x-Senator Doolittle's attempted defence Of
himself, which we publish elsewhere, shows him
10 be good deal more of rogue than even the
original correspondence revealed. He was ac-
cused, on the evidence Of letters in his own
handwriting, OF having accepted, while senator
Of the United States, an offer Of oneiourth in
terest in a trading speculation that promised to
be very lucrative, and the success Of which he
could, through his official position, influence
more or less. 1t appeared from the same letters
that Senator DOolittle took the precaution, in
case his connection with the offence should leak
out to write himself letter, which his accom-
pliee was to copy and sign, in which he compli-
mented himself very highly for his disinterested-
ness, and asserted that the offer of fourth part
ofa fortune too big, he said, for one man to take
care Of judiciously,) was pure gratuity, an act
of friendship, inspired by Mr.. Conatty's exalted
admiration Of his senatorial ability and public
services.
Three weeks after these letters appear, and
after he had prudently telegraphed to Washing
ton to see if there was anything on file against
him, and finding that there was not, he writes
a long reply, in which he does not deny the au-
thenticty OF the letters, nor the fact that he
consented TO COnnatty's offer, but simply SAYS
that be had not helped him to procure from the
government his permit to trade in cotton Now,
whether he did or did not is not the important
question Whether the offer of fourth inter
est in what was expected to prove a money
making affair was to be regarded in the light of
reward for past services, or of bride for SER
vices expected, is immateral. There stands the
simple fact, which he does not dispute, but
which he awkwardly tries to evade by a multi
tude of words not pertinent to the case.
OF course the whole transaction was meant to
be private one; such letters are not usually
written for the public eye; they are written in
the expectation that they will never be brought
to hight, but still, so that if they should happen
to fall under the eyes of third party, they
would seem quite harmless and innocent. Doc
Titles astonishment that anybody should sup
pose such epistolary oscillations meant for pub
lie inspection is exceedingly naive. 1t was only
little understanding between us, he SAYS,
quiet memorandum in case of slip, a conhden'
tlal record to be preserved for "the private use
of the parties" just SO; nothing more, and
nothing less. An acquaintance of the senator,
a comparative stranger, we might say, goes to
his committee room, tells of his having resigned
a treasury clerkship to 90 into a cotton trade,
says it will bring in untold gold, and asks the
senator if he would like, as the boys say, "to 60
snaeks" "Don't know" says the severely Vir-
tuous Doolittle; considering whether there were
any illegal objections" and discovering none.
added, Cant advance anything, you know, nor
take any risks" Certainly not" replied the
generous COnatty, cit is all out Of pure friend
ship and admiration for your astounding abili
ties and your immaculate purity of character
Lets put that in writing" rejoins the judge
"and the thing is DONE"
1t was done; and now the ever seething caul
dron of party debate turns the letters up to the
surface. Doolittle stares aghast at the sudden
appariton, like Macbeth at the witches broth
and Doolittle's friends, the upright and impec
cable model of independent Journalism, for ia.
stance, which denounces journals which do not
happen to worship its idols, as "idiotic" and
"nSane," SAYS daintily, cit was an error Of
judgment" "an offence against taste and deli.
cacy," and, besides, "other people have been
accused of things quite as bad. That's all there
is of it-let it GO" Poor Doolitte would like
to let it 90, that he may resume his eloquent
dent; but it will stick, and honest people every.
where--we mean outside of editorial rooms-will
see in it something more than can error OF
taste" or "au offence against delcacy." They
will see in it one of those many secret ris Of
dishonesty which feed the vast pool of political
corruption.