Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-08-20

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GIFTS TAKING. .-Ex President johnson. in
his speech at Knoxville, discussed gift-taking
by public functonaries, and he treated it as
high crime" In this view of the matter, he
was warranted by high English authority. He
adduced in illustration the action of the House
Of Commons in 1906 in respect to their Speak.
er, Sir John Trevor. We copy the account Of
Treyor's case which Mr.. johnson extracts
ut was the funeral of Queen Mary, the wife
of King William 3D. Her burial took place
on the 5th of March, 1905, day long re-
membered in London. She had died young
and was beloved Her death was sudden, al
most terrible. Public sorrow for her was very
great Never was there so universal mourning
constrained by true sympathy. Parliament re-
solved to follow her body to the grave. Never
before had Parliament followed royal funeral.
They did so, however, robed in long cloaks of
scarlet aud black, attended by the maces, the
emblcms of their dignity. But the House Of
Lords and the House of Commons came after
the hcar>e, on which was laid the purple vel
vet-shrouded coffin. The streets we're hung
with black. 1t was iu truth, pageant of un-
usual solemnity. The whole English nation
was represented there the Nobility the Judges,
the Lord Mayor all the authorities, both civil
and religious Aud walking in this grand pro
ceSsion between the Peers and the House OF
Commons, in space set apart to do him hon
Or with the mace borne before him, and his
train carried up, walked John Trevor, as Speak
er of the House of Commons. None of the
speakers before him had been thus distinguish
cd as the first Commander of the Realm No
former speaker had been honored by heading
in royal procession the whole House of Com
mons Thus was John Trevor, as the first
Commoner of the Realm, publicly ennobled, on
the 9TH of March, 1895. Within one week, in
the eyes of all England, he was man the low
est aud most degraded among Englishmen.
This is how it happened: We saw Trevor, on
the 5th of March, as Speaker OF the House of
Commons, heading the House. after Queen
Marys coffin. What is it that Trevor, only
seven days later, had to do as Seaker-stand
ing iu his high place, standing there before all
the representatives Of England? lie had to
read aloud words to this effect:
Resolved That Sir John Trevor, Speaker
Of this House, for receiving gratuity OF 1000
guineas from the city of London, is guilty of
high crime.
Thus ended the 10Th day of March, 1890;
and what Il day it must have been for Trevor.
During all that day he sat in the Speaker
chair conspicuous, exalted, while his guilt was
exhibited in full. There he had to stay, in his
post of Office raised alott, that it might DC
proved that he, as Speaker of the House OF
through Parliament. He was forced to see the
papers specifying the day, the cause, the names
of the persons who had bribed him. held up be-
fore his very face. He had to hear that all
read aloud trom the beginning to the end. Then
came the tulfment Of that end Trevor was
obliged to stand up, to read aloud, and to put
to the vote that resolution descriptive of bis
guilt His words we're quickly answered by
shouts Of Aye" "Aye!" And then, as
Speakers do, Trevor had to ask the House ii
any there were ola contrary opinion, but to
that question came no answer. 1t was lmpos-
Sible for any one to say mo SO, as Speaker,
he had himself to declare that he himself had
been so base as to take bribe. 1t seemed
strange that any man could endure the lgnoml-
ny of such moments 1t was as much as this
man could bear. Slippery as was Trevors ma
ture, he could not escape the grip OF that great
shame Had he taken the chair the next day,
he must have put to the House a vote for his
own expulsion This he avoided. lie pleaded
illness Another Speaker was chosen Soon after
Trevor was expelled. Never again-never be
iore-had the Speaker chair been disgraced
as by Trevor And the shame was keenly felt
by the House Of Commons Here was where
our toretathers obtained their idea from. The
trial of Trevor established that principle which
was inserted in our Constitution. Washington
felt overwhc lmcd with the importance Of the
protection Of the country
WOULDN'T BE MEAN ABOUT 1T-A couple
of fiat, boat men on the Mississippi River hav-
ing made an extraordinary good speculation,
concluded that while they were in New Orleans
they would go for frst-class hotel dinner at
the ST. Charles Hotel. Having eaten the meal,