Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-02-01
THr FRA OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION.


rHE ERA OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION.
The corruption in high places which
has lately come to light and been pa
raded before the eyes Of the half inter
ested aud half Indifferent people is per
fectly astounding Without abiding to
ANYTHING nearer home than Knoxville,
where Boyd, the ex-clAim agent, is I'M
dergoinga trial in the Federal Court for
delrauding the Government, we may call
attention to few of the more notorious
exposures. The first that was of any
national Importance was in New York,
when the corrupt Tammany Ring, after
stealing millions from the people, was
exposed, broken up and ingloriously
crushed to the earth by an indignant
and outraged people That was on the
Democratic side Of the question, aud
was used with terrible effect in the late
Presidential canvass, when New York
furnished candidate, for the White
House. Meanwhile charges Of corrup-
ton and bribery were made against Sem
ator Caldwell, Of Kansas, and various
members of Congress, but as these were
supposed to be very good and loyal men
they were whitewashed temporarily and
the matter hushed up during the canvass.
Caldwell was elected United States SEN
ator early in 1871, but afidavits we're
taken on the spot and forwarded to
Washington proving that he used cor
rupt means to secure his election. Yet
he was permitted to take his seat, and
an investigation was purposely post
poned from time to time under the pre-
text that the committee appointed for
the purpose was otherwise too busy
but since the election the committee
went to work and could not help finding
out that Caldwell bought up the mem
bers for price, and in most cases paid
the money down in advance These are
facts beyond controversy. Among other
things il was shown that Caldwelrs
strongest opponent was bought of with
$4,000 After holding his seat nearly
two years his impeachment seems almost
inevitable. But just at this time, while
the eyes Of the country are opening wide
at the developments of the Credit Mo
bilier Investigations at Washington,
where about two dozen Congressman
and the Vice President have been con
victed Of base corruption and most
cowardly, unmanly disavowels, sur
prise comes again from Kansas that
eclipses anything Of the kind ever known
in this country, or perhaps any other.
Senator Pomeroy, who has been leader
of the Republican party for many years,
went home to go through the form Of re-
election, scarcely doubtwas entertained
as to the result; but what a terrible fall
was in store for the eminent statesman.
The Legislature met in joint session
last Wednesday, the 29th instant, at
Topeka. Pomeroy had lively opposi-
ton, but was perfectly sanguine that
party drill and money would put him
safely through. What, then, must have
been the dramatic effect and the conster-
nation when Senator York arose just
previous to the first ballot and an
nounced that Pomeroy had promised
him $4,000 for his vote, and had already
paid him $1,000; and to complete the eff
feet he drew the money from his pocket
and laid it on the Speakers desk. The
ballot was then taken in the midst Of
intense excitement and confusion, re-
,ulting in the election of John J Ingolls,
while Pomeroy did not receive a single
vote This was a crushing and an un-
defeat Of a powerful Senator, |
md a rebuke that sounds note Of warn
ng to corrupt ohiee-holders and Office
ieekers all over the laud, wherever they |
nay be found. Patterso1. Of South Car
Dina, it is we'll known, bought up the
,olored members Of the Legislature who
elected him TO the United States Senate
In no era of our national existence was
ever such an amount of bribery, corrup.
ion aud proAigacy developed or ever
limited at or believed to be possible. 1t
to be seen whether the Republi-
can party, which holds complete power
and aseendency for the present, is capa-
bic Of Furnishing and banishing from high
places those who are guilty Of bribery,
iupliciiy and perjury. 1.-THE party rises
equal to the emergency, and uni,es with
All good conservative men in meeting
out full justice to those who have so
Iasely betrayed their trusts, it will be the
party Of the people for an indefinite
period; but If these rognes are permitted |
10 escape with a coat Of official white
wash, the honest, Eberty-loying people Of
ne land, irrespective of party, viii rise
n their might aud scatter the party to 4
be four winds, even as the sachems Of
rammany were dispersed with their i'll
-otten spells by an outraged public
marting under multiplied wrongs. The
torn is rising ia the breasts Of the
masses. aud the guilty in high places
nay well shake with fear.
THE Brownsville Bee gives an account
{ the burning and complete destruction