The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-25

pose the partisan injustice which seeks q
different result. The Poland whitewashers
and their followers are to defend Kelley,
Garfield. Bingham and the rest and to
clamor for judgment against Brooks and
Ames. The Butler free-lances are to dash
around the lines of each of these contestants
and to strike for the escape of the whole batch
OF culprits, from Ames down to Dawes,
although endeavoring to secure political ad-
vantage through the harmless medium of a
vote of censure. And this will be all There
will be no justice for the people, no adequate
punishment for the dishonest public servants
AS well try burglar by jury of thieves as
endeavor to convict corruptionist in Con-
gress rotten with corruption from the surface
to the core.
In gratifying contrast to the action of the
House committees is the attitude stated in our
special Washington despatch to be taken
by the Senate Investigating Committee on
the cases of the Senators involved in
the Credit Mobilier infamy. If their
report is correctly foreshadowed it will
strike a responsive chord in the popular
heart that will do honor to that body.
There is to be no false reasoning-no plausi-
BILE excuse for corruption. Bribery is called
bribery perjury is designated by its right
name. Patterson is to be expelled, Harlan
censured and Wilson and Logan blamed.
This is as it should be-
The people are growing weary of this trifing
with the national honor. Not in this Credit
Mobilier infamy alone, but in other notorious
corruptions they find the party in power eager
to cover up the tracks of the guilty and to evade
exposure. 1t is notorious that the Pacific Mail
subsidy was passed by the purchase of men,
bers more open and undiguised even than the
stock placing of Cakes Ames. We have been
assured upon good authority that the books of
the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House will
show upon examination suspicious
and convincing deposit of greenbacks
to number of members within
day or two of the passage of that subsidy
1t is known, too, as well as any event of the
kind can be known to those not implicated in
the crime, that the legislation at our own
State capital in relation to the Pacific Mail
Company has been secured by the grossest
bribery and corruption. Yet this corporation,
which endeavors to make up by extortions
from the national Treasury and special benefits
from the State of New York for the enormous
losses incurred by reckless and improvident
management, is suffered to enjoy laws which
should be swept from the statute books if
only on account of the infamous means by
which they have been secured. If the House of
Representatives had particle Of decency left it
would order the Pacific mail subsidy investi-
cation to be made with open doors, in the
broad light of day; for in this at least no
Poland whitewashers or Butler imitationists
could shield the corruptiopists from punish
ment. We might, indeed, with advantage
submit to an extra session of Congress, to be
devoted exclusively to investigation and purif-
cation, and there would be enough material for
q prolonged session at that A full exposure
would be wiser policy for the dominant
party than its present policy Of concealment.
Suspicion is generally harsher than the truth
There are thousands who are now disposed to
look upon the republican party as foul with
corruption; to believe that from the war down
it has lived and fattened on unholy plumber;
that in its swindling contracts, in the money
extorted from the blood of the men who
sacrificed their lives for the Union,
in its bounty frauds, its revenue
frauds, its official stealing and bribery,
it has utterly demoralized the whole national
character. The action Of the Senate is the
first redeeming feature developed in the
republican policy for some time But
if it would escape this terrible brand
its majority in Congress should now heed
the judgment of the people on these Credit
Mobilier culprits, and drag to the light of
day the operations of the Pacific Mail SUBJ
sidy and of every Infamous job that has been
cousummated by dishonest means. It will be
we'll for party that possesses everywhere the
full power of legislation and executive action
to beware how it continues to brave the just
indignation of the people.
Justice to the Nations Pensioners.
The corrupt Congress now so near its dsso-
luton has displayed an amazing propensity