Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-02-06
The Morale of the Republican Party.


II The Credit Mohiiicr investigation and oiheis
now pending al Washington would induce Con
ETess 20 purge 10 walls OF unworthy members,
who bought into office, sell their corrupt votes
like cattle in ihc market, and thereby approve
that iuSt sentence Of public opinion -condemna.
h5n-WAleA pcTyales the Whole country, we
shonld then take courage, recognize publication
OF Congressional morals and expect a reforma-
ton not only in the conduct of our national rti-
le-s, but in the code OF political ethics. We look
in vain for the evidences that such desidcralum
viii be attained
Take the investigation, and VIC ind committees
sitting with closed doors at tho demand Of those
who called most loudly for investigation. and
when ihe knock Of al indignant public opens the
portals, behold Senators and members Of the
House submitting written answers carefully pre-
paved 10y astutc counsel able delcnces TO an ex-
animation which is 10y no means severe In vain
DO we wait for a witness who will exhibit even an
apparent consciousness OF the onormiiv OF his
guilt. Like tho Spartan with his fox, they fail to
see the o1ense Of bribery, and pcrsislcntIv lie
sooner than suffer Disclosure Of their sin. They
call themselves bcncf.iagies, ana when their Of
fcndhg "smells 10 heaven" they inpecentIy re-
turn the price Of the stock bui retain the three or
Tour hundred per cent in obedience 10 The ,re-
tended sacred responses OF the cloister.
\ FEW Of The Administration papers thai refuse
TO see anything bat perfection in the Republican
parry, and falling to explain away the transparent
deeds Of their heretofore honOred leaders exelaim
in puerile manner that the Democratic papers
wish 10 mslie partisan capital out Of the investi
81 a..
implication Of Honorable James Brooks. What
a miserable example Of begging the question =
Is the guilt palliatcd beeauee political opponents
arc inconiinenily smirehed by &c same transac.
uons No, the excuse is ,aean one. The ofense
itself is hoinous, and IS none Tic less ,cnisl by
including in ijs eommttal Mon g. each political
creed
Perhaps Il would DO pertinent this time 10
ask the people Of DslaWsre how they ike the re-
suit OF Radical teachings which have graduated
coliaz and Patterson. Representative men, they
assume TO themselves that class OF frugal virtues
which have commonly the result of giving an ap-
psaranee Of sedate, unruffled respeeiability. No
violent, impetuous or indisoTeet word is uttered
or act committed under the impulse OF passionate
excitement or generous disregard of personal con-
sequences Tie irailiies Of hot blood and e1lrava-
gances Of passion aro 10 them unknown and be-
ing thus freed from .hese expressive humanities.
they come 70 believe themselves valtly the su
periors OF all who are unlike them. They thank
God daily that they are not as other men, seven
as this poor publican"
These two mon are pictures Of tho whole party
Of bribetakers, and favorable ones at that for
they both possess certain amiable traits which
make them vastly preferable 10 the coarsor and
bitterer elasses who largely make mp and control
the Radical party.
To read the Lessons OF their teachings one need
but see the Commercial, and they are spread be-
fore him. Here Il what last Saturdays issus of
that organ said in eztenuation Of Messra. colfax
and Patterson: Their error in boldiaz Credit
Mobilier stock-if they did hold g. and il thoy
did, therefore, err-is less serious than the ap-
parantly contradictory statements IN which they
have involved themselves, and il is these last |
which cause their best friends most pain" and |
hen dishoBeslly and foolishly endeavored 70 be-
afle The cIi.HeOi lying, snd eondons this Gerrory
~ tho retirement into private liio Of tho authors
lgloE "A eEplssa term Of high and honoEed Office |
II 4 not strictly true that public men arO what I
hs ;psopis make them" Those occupying high 1
,lEci1l positions afford examples to the lower
yalks Of life, and impurities starting from the
ountAin head rapidly polute tho entire stream
hat these impurities may be removed FIRST from
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