The sun., 1872-10-09
Shall the sale of Congrcssinen be En-
couTagcd

The stupeudous robbery Of the people
for the aggraudiZcment Of the Credit Mo-
bilier Ring of spectators was of itself
crime of colossal proportions, but the los
of titty or sixty millions Of dollars hlohcd
from the pockets of the taxpayers through
the action of Their faithless representatives,
in Congress IS of little account in compaii-
son with the widespread decentralization
resulting from the successful accomplish
ment of such fraud. Honest business en-
terprisc is placed NJ fearful disadvantage
when it comes in competition with the
schemes of public plundercrs who, under
the pretence Of promoting important inn
provements, levy on the peoples money To
enrich themselves, using State and ma
tional legislators rs the tools for the ac-
complement of their corrupt designs.
and this is one Of the gravest consequences
Of corrupt legislation in the interest ui
rings
The success whi,h attended the con-
spiracy of the Credit Mobilicr Ring against
the Treasury of the United states ha>
served a. a great stimulus TO rascality, and
il direct encouragement to public plum
dercrs OF all descriptions. Since it,
contamination the efforts Of specu-
lative rings to secure the control
of the representatives of the people, in
State and national legislatures have in-
creased in efrrontery and peltinacity with
each succeeding year. The same evil ten
dency to misrepresentation of the public
funds which finds it, most conspicuous eX-
ample in the action Of thcmcmbcr, Of Con-
gress who were bribcd by OAKEs AMEs
tation in the great frauds in this city, in the
olund ring operations of the carpct-bag
Legislatures OF the South, in the EvANs-
HARTHANFr fraud in Pennsylvania, in uu-
ncrous Jobs urged upon Congress, and in
che reckless cNtrayagunccs of GRANTS Dis
trict Of Columbia Ring In all of these
cases the fuithlessness Of public officers has
led 10 the most shameless robbery of the
people, nnd in every instance the mdivii-
unls who profitcd by the robbery were
comparatively few in number.
Perhaps the worst feature of this whole
business is that the greater the success at
tending such operations rs those of the
Credit Nuhllier the greater will be the
fund AT the disposal of the COnspirators for
carrying out still further schemes of plum
Ser by the same means. In California the
Central Pacific Railroad monopolists have
used the wealth bestowed upon them by
legislation To control the politics of the
State, and have absolutely ruled the Legis-
iature for years. The rates of freight and
passenger fares in California are regulated
by the railroad magnates without the least
regard TO the interests Of the people, who
nave been compelled to pay them cnor-
nous subsidies in addition to those granted
by Congress; ana when competition 10
their cXuCtiOns j. threatened the monopo.
lists exercise their control of the law
Gakiug authority to throw obstacles i'm the
way of all public Improvements which
would interfere with their own projects
Hhcy dictate tine nominations Of political
conventions, and have even secured the
Election ~ one of the senator. from CalifOr
MA in thc next Congress of the present
agent of the Central Pacific Railroad IN
Inc iIou-" OF RCprcs outHtiNcs, AARON A.
sARGENr, T. man 30 d,tc-t,d 10y the peopl,
he assumes 10 represent that he was not
long ago huhod in cngy iu san Francisco
what Is ine "i California t. likely to be
rome true of many other Statc.. ,nlcs,
the people awaken TO the danger bcfor,
them ana ovcrwhclm the whole uuoleaI
horde Of corruptiouists by n burt of in
diguation which shall drive them an,
their tools from public sight. Imagine
senate composed entirely of men like san
Sent who represents no constituency cx
~pt ring of spectators gorgcd wit