The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-22
Polsnd's DisgrsceSul Report-ExPul-
sion and Impeachment the Duty Of
Congress.

Bishop Poland finds that his report has not
received fattering welcome from the Ameri-
can people. The duty imposed upon the
committee charged with the Credit Mobilier
investigation was a solemn and sacred trust
Bishop Poland knew this when be consented
to become chairman of the committee. He
ought to have known also that ON indignant
people would not passively agree to be hum
plugged if the duty was not solemnly and
sacredly performed. Now, even he cannot
fail to see that he has made fatal mistake
Even he cannot fail to see that his course is
reprobated by his countrymen. The whole
country knows that in his conduct in this in
vestigation, from the beginning to the end, he
has been faithless and impudent trickster
If the newspapers, with the HERALD at their
head, had not demanded and extorted an open
investigation, the testimony would have been
taken with closed doors, and the whole truth
would never have been published. Yet, in
face of this, and in face of the fact, plain
to everybody, that the country regarded all of
the accused Congressman, with the exception
of Blaine, as guilty Of the charges made
against them, he has dared to defy public
sentiment and the will of the people. He
cannot plead duty, for it is his duty which he
violated. He cannot plead ignorance, for he
knew the public mind The guilty Congress
men had no defenders left, for their crime was
too clearly established. Bishop Poland finds
himself in the same position, for even the
blindest and most partisan defender of radi-
cal sins, the English administration organ in
this city, after twisting and torturing the facts
developed by the investigation, in the most
reckless way, has been forced by public
clamor to denounce this foolish report That
journal now sees what the HERALD pointed
out long ago, that the miserable Tammany
| tricksters and robbers are not the only black
sheep in the political fold.
| This report is trick-the result of an ar
rangement with the men whom General Butler
called "the truly good Christian statesmen"
We have said this before, and we not only
repeat it now, but assert that Dawes, Kelley,
Garfield Bingham, Scofeld and the rest are it's
real authors and inventors. They supplied
the black paint for Ames and Brooks and the
bright varnish for themselves. They knew, in
the slang of the day, that somebody would
have "to face the music''-that somebody
would have to become o scapegoat for the
others-and they selected the amiable shovel
maker of Massachusetts and the venerable rep
resentative from the Seventh district of this
city. They were first bribed, bought, paid for
and owned by the Credit Mobilier. When
their crime was charged upon them all of them
- cAoI e Ill
To crown the mountain of their offences they
at last added conspiracy to their other crimes.
Bishop Poland's report is not meant to punish
anybody, although the expulsion of two men,
bers of Congress is recommended by it. Ex-
treme measures with these men are not con-
templated-it is scarcely possible they ever
were contemplated. The one is democrat
and the other republican. Their arraign-
ment is sham-the resolution for their expul-
sion trick to raise a storm in both parties
The democrats, as o matter Of course, would
resist an attempt to make mere scapegoat of
Brooks The republicans, unless blinded by
partisan zeal and ready to add outrage and in
justice to the Credit Mobilier shame, will not
consent that Ames shall be the only radical
Congressman to suffer. A protracted and bit
ter debate is evidently contemplated, the result
of which would be that the session will expire
before anybody is expelled. The people
will submit to no such trifing. We therefore
beg the earnest men in Congress to prevent
the success of any scheme of this kind, and to
mete out punishment justly and swiftly.
We intend to hold Congress to its duty,
because we believe that more depends upon its
action now than ever before depended upon
the action of q legislative body in q similar
case The shreds and patches of reputation Of
q few unfaithful public servants are of little
moment; but not even these must be left them.
1t is public virtue that is on trial. The world
is watching for the result with interest. The
good name of republicans, of republicanism is
at stake. The ability of free people to pun
ish powerful criminals is the question. We
trust the answer will be one that will satisfy
our own people and the rest of the world, for
the fears which spring from an unsatisfactory
whitewashing as that attempted by Bishop
Poland is permitted this action of Congress
will prove the deathblow of republican purity
and integrity. This is not making a mountain
out of molehill. This is not matter to be
lightly and carelessly treated. The struggle
that is to be witnessed on the floor Of the
House of Representatives next Tuesday repre-
sents one of the most important crises in
American history. 1t is crisis that must
be met and met boldly if the Republic is
to live.
The duty of Congress is very plain. Throw
ing aside all prejudices, all personal interests
and all craftsmanship, no honest member can
fail to see that if Ames bribsd any of his
fellow members all who took his money
were bribed. To bride is not more heinous