The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-02-08


Tho credit Mobilicr ycnality Of the ioremos,
Republican Congressman isthe greatest shame
10 which the country has ever been subjected.
The eorrupiions Of the Tammany Ring by
which the city Of New York was ptandered Of
$40, 00O, 600; the corruptionsofth carpet.bag
governments imposed upon the Southern
States BY which they were plundered Of more
than $200, 000, 900, were no such shame TO the
United States as the less profitable yenality OF
the Credit Mobilier Congressman. Neither OF
these snblc scandals inculpated the real or
the reputed leaders Of great political party.
The Credit Mobiier scandal ineulpates the
very foremost leaders Of the Republican party.
Tweed wss prominent Democrat in single
municipality. He grasped at power in the
State, and the Democratic party denied il to
him. He grasped at power in the city, and by
the purchase OF venal Republican Legislators
at Albany obtained il and held it long enough
10 consummate his robberies, hut thereupon
was denied recognition in the Convention OF
the Democratic party and within three years
was expelled from power, sued for his money,
and prosecuted for his crimes. In the field
Of Federal politics he never figured nor at
tempted to figure, and upon the principles or
policy Of his party in the city or State he ex'
tENlteu NO lullutuCt. Att NOtt tnt
leyery because il gave him better opportuni-
ties ofplunder, the Democrats being major
ity in New York.
The carpet,baggers of the South we're con.
fined to few States, and although imposed
upon those States by the votes Of the Repub-
lican party in Congress. it was indirectly, by
the denial of power to the natural leaders in
that section and by the gift Of suffrage TO an
ignorant class incapable Of conceiying of its
use as trust, or even Of its prudent use as n
personal emolument Their plumber was huge.
Ten times the sum stolen from rich New
York by the Ring, the carpet baggers
stole from the devastated impoverished South.
But even though negroes vote, all men know
the time Of the carpet-bagger is short. The
foremost of them are running for snug quar-
tiers in the Senate, but they do not expect to
keep their hold on their States, they do not
grasp after the combined political power Of
their section. They do not figure in Federal
politics and will not attempt to figure, except
as they will sell their votes for every land
grab, every subsidy for internal improvements,
every ship-building job, and every tariff
/ scheme of the proteetionists, like the repeal
of tea and coffee duties and abolition Of all
! internal revenue.
But the Credit Mobilier Congressman are
the foremost men in the whole Republican
Party. Not to dwell upon the fact that Thad-
deus Stevens, the most venal and prostitute
politician OF his time, who sold his votes and
influence to these same Pacific Railroad men
| for $4,000, was the first among these fore
most Republicans, the leader in the House of
Representatives during the whole war period
here is the chief Republican representative
from Indiana for seven successive Congresses,
the Speaker ofthe Thirty eighth, Thirty ninth,
and Fortieth Congresses, the presiding officer
of the Senate and Vice President ofthe United
States, Schuyler Colfax, proven to have had
| shares in the Credit Mobilier corruption, to
have published false denial of the fact, Ia
have attempted sneaking concealment of his
crime, and when confronted with conclusive
proofs, to have retreated into Hat perjury,
silly, useless, obvious perjury, which does not
even throw dust in the eyes of his nearest
friends. Here is Henry Wilson, long Sena-
| tor from Massachusetts, just elected Vice
President of the United States, as much as
any man responsible for the policy of his par
| ty, engaged actually in the same vile iobbery,
and only seemingly innocent because his traf.
ticking was carried on behind the name OF
his wife. Here is Henry l.. Dawes, for so
many years in Congress from the same State,
/
| Stevens in its premiership, being the foremost
man in the financial questions which have
succeeded the reconstruction issue. Just as
Stevens was foremost in the reconstruction
days-he, too, bought stock at corrupt valua.
ton, paid for it, drew dividends thereon, and
then under oath denied any ownership in the
premises, but admitted that be held on to his
bargain till there was danger the light would
strike it. Here is Patterson, of New Hamp.
shire, lending strength to the Republican
boast of culture and morality by his saintly
walk and conversation and the learned aroma
of his collegiate connection and chair; and he
too, swears the thing that is not and has his
own sign manual on half dozen occa,
sions called up to eontroyert his oath
Here is Harlan, anothero of the same kind lack
ing the culture, the indefatigable exhorter, the
reformer of other mems sins, the proclaimel
on all occasions that Republicanism wns !
sort of theology of itself-he, too, is shown tc
have received dishonest hire, and that BY nc
subterfuge, but in cash paid down in hand, as /
hispurchasers knew him to have as little sham,
or scruple as any painted harridan of In,
street. The darkly frowning Logan, a Dor
Diego of chiyalric loftipess and perfect truth
the Notwithstanding Stevenson; the bitter
Bingham; Proiectionist Kelley, never sc
happy as when putting mp prices so that hi
ring might profit by the increased none,
our 4o,0Oo,0OO of people must necessarily
pay-great lights these, bright and shining
lights, luminaries one and all Of the Republi
can heavens, and yet not man Of them bu
traded more or less in Credit Mobilier and 4
more or less attainted, according as under iea
of exposure he drew out soon or late. Rec
ognized leaders all Of these generals an,
lieutenant generals, admirals, Of the Republi
can forces-no poor little bngadiers, with
detached column Of knavery, ike Tweed; n,
scrubby captains and corporals like the car
pet-bag fry, but the very first and foremos
men in the ranks of what has assumed to b,
the party of great moral IDEAS World.