The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-01-21
this effort virtually comedies the point at

TINS effort virtually conccies the point Nv
issue.
The chronicle declares that 'the
committee of investigation transcends its
authority when it inquiries into the private
affairs OF politicians" Now the election
of senator is in no sense Of the phrase "a
private affair - on the contrary, it is ono
10 which the people of the state and the
people of the country have the deepest in
terest. 1t is a public affair, and the pub
lie have an absolute right to know what
means are employed by the successful
candidate to secure his election. If he
has distributed money among the mem
bers of the legislature, the public should
know the names Of those who sold their
| votes; If he has received money for dis.
tribu,ion, tho public should know who
furnished at, and what was the considera-
ton involved. In these degenerate days,
when offices and legislation are brough,
into the market and disposed of to the
highest bidder, neither the seller nor the
purchaser can consistently object to an
impartial examination of the transaction
Durant holds this sensible opinion, and has
testified accordingly. He says, under
oath, that after demands repeated SO
often and 80 persistently that they
beanie annoying, he gave 1.-TWO checks OF
$500 each, made payable to the order OF
Harlan himself; that these checks were
given in response to the personal solicita-
tions Of Harlan that the understanding
was that the money would be used to as
sst the election of Harlan, and that he
Durant--had large interests in Iowa,
Identical with those OF the Union Pacific
railway, which Harlan's presence in the
senate would materially improve. We do
not see how n case can be any
SAWS to Durant. "rou have a
nice axe to grind give mo $4,000 and 1,
IN my senatorial capacity, will grind it"
Durant passes over his checks for the
amount, Harlan receives them, and there
by pledges himself to fulfil his portion of
the contract. 1t makes no sort of differ
ence whether he puts the cash in his pock-
ct, or uses it to pay hotel bills, whisky and
cigar bills, or to buy votes. IL is Il hribe
known to be such by both parties en-
gagged, and deserves whatever, punishment
attaches to bribery.
Tho Chronicles plea is worst than idle,
and will be regarded by the country as
nothing less than an open acknowledge
ment OF the charges preferred against the
proprietor of that journal. 1t is not like
iy that Harlan can make any better de.
fence before the committee than he has
done in prins, and il he cannot wha. does
The senate propose to do about it2 viii
the ''slush" taker be allowed to remain in
the body insultcd by his presence? If he
IS, then let it be understood, hereafter,
that bribery and corruption are otfsnses
which do not disturb the moral sense of
the senate, and dispense forever with all
Investigations. Harlan awaits judgment,
and if that judgment sinks into a mere
farce, then his brother senators deliberate
ly indorse and as deliberately share his
guilt.
While on this subject, it may DO appro-
pirate TO express our regret that the COM
mittee did not push their inquiries in re-
gar dto Harlans connection with Durant
n little further. They might have asked
Durant whether he did not, to all intents
and purposes, own Harlan when the latter
was secretary of the interior; whether
Harlan did not use his official position to
delay tho construction of tho Kansas
Pacific railway, so that Durant could get
the Union Pacific to the one-hundr red tn
meridian first, and reap the advan-
tages tnerOi; whether Harlan did not
at one time refuse to order tho issuance
OF government bonds to the Kansas
Pacific, and when directed to do SO by
President johnson, whether he did not
obtain $4,000 for doing what he was in
duty bound to do for nothing. The part
nership between Durant and Harlan is of
long duration, and if its history ia ever
fully written up, deal of light will be
thrown upon modern American politics
and influence.