Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-09-25
MUST BE DECIDED.

It has been and should be a source
Of pride to all members Of the Repub-
lican party, that thus far whenever
charges Of corruption have been pre-
sented to Congress It has undertaken
and prosecuted the Investigation Of
such complaints promptly and vlgor-
ously. Notably was this 90 last
Winter and the facts laid bare, though
they shocked the public mind and
damaged the reputation Of numerous
men high in Office, though they weak
ened and destroyed popular confidence
in several prominent Christian states
men," they did not destroy public
trust in the party. But the party fall
ed Just at the moment whom . do
cisive action would have crowned 1t
with universal favor and continued re-
spect. 1t failed to do justice to the
people by expelllng from their seats
each and every man In whom the faint
Of corruption was proven to exist. 1t
failed to carry out Its rigorous and
searching Investigations to their legit-
innate and contemplated result, by
placing the brand Of Congressional
contempt and reputation upon every
man whom the Testimony convicted Of
offering or receiving brides Of any.
kind. The people read the testimony I;
Jaw the truth and In their own minds
convicted the offenders. But at the
critical juncture. when charges, dam
aging in character, ~disgracefnl In fact,
aud dangerous as precedent, had been
established before the Investigating
Committees Of both Houses Of Con-
gress, the influence Of such men as
Butler and Bingham In the House OF
Representatives and Carpenter and
Cameron In the Senate, combined to
prevent such action rs was due both to
Congress and the people and men
high In public station, who were
proven to be both bribers and bribed
were permitted to retain their seats In
the National Legislature. After hav-
Ing filed a complaint, impanneled n
jury. tried the offenders aud received
a verdict the National Congress stop
ped and refused to pass just sentence
OIL Its convicted criminals. 1t wal q
mockery Of justice, an evasion Of duty
and the result has been baneful to the
best interests Of Republicanism. True,
by the exposures made, the corrup-
~tionists Implicated have been judged
and condemned before the bar Of pub
lie opinion, but Congress failed at the
most trying moment and thereby lost
prestige, and much of popular con-
tidence.
Now some Of the demagogues are
crying, Tho people are tired Of in.
vestigations. Let there be no more
and have the face to demand that be-
cause Of the very number Of the In
vestigations already had, and their
own failure to inflict sentence upon
convicted culprits, there Is no need OF
any more. These men are getting
ready to enter Congress next winter
and oppose all propositions which
look to the appointment Of Investiga-
ting Committees. They are ready to
cover with sarcasm, and sneer down
any and all attempts to Inquire into
the derelictlons Of prominent parti-
sans, and Intend to summon to their
aid all the rigorous laws and customs
of party discipline. This will not do.
1t will not silence scandal, o will 1t
satisfy the people. II there are any
offences which shock public decency,
corrupt public morals, or endanger
public safety and the common veal.
the Republican party Of all others 10
the one whose duty it Is to Investigate
the evils, expose the perpetrators, and
apply tho necessary remedies. It can
afford to do 90. In fact It cannot AZ
ford to do otherwise. The popular
mind has during the past year been
aroused to . peculiar degree OF
sensitiveness by the events which
have occurred, and the Republican
party must take strong ground
In the matter Of reforms demanded, or
fall behind. 1t will, not do to rely
upon history for present strength and
future success. Reforms are demand
ed on all sides, and prominent among
the subjects Of popular feeling Is that
OF official corruption. Day after day
the people ask that bribery and venal-
ity, that fraud and treachery, shall be
exposed, and not only exposed. but
punished. From all owe the country,
In conventions aud mass meetings, this
sentiment Is telegrsphsd, and the res
olurions Of the last State Convention
which met call more loudly for action
than any OF Its predecessors. There Is
much more need Of investigation than
legislation. The whole country woald
be gamer II the business Of the next
session Of Congress should comprise
nothing but inquests. Laws we have.
In endless profusion. What Is needed
now Is honest legislators, honest exec
utives, and honest judges. The whole
question with the Republican party Ia
fast;narrowing to the issue. whether 1t
will undertake and carry out the work
Of publication now demanded BY the
people, or BY lodging Its responsibility
arouse and intensity the popular dis,
gust until 1t loses both It's prestige and
its power. And It IL q question which
the next Congress must consider and
decide.
GeN. BUFFERS raid on the Massa-
chusetts Governorship accomplished a
large amount OF good In more way,
Than mn IL bas brorioht about such