Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-06-26

It appears that n few Of u worthy
Senators and Representatives were so
afraid of hurting the feelings Of, or
casting undue opprobrium upon their
fellow legislators, that while acknowl.
edging the salary grab dishonest, and
not only morally but legally a crime.
they returned their share Of the swag
to the National Treasury, they did it
sub rosa. and requested the Treasury
Department that no publicity be given
to their action. This Is wrong. 1t Is
an attempt to shield others In the per-.
petration Of an act which they them
selves cannot justify before Ito use
Shellabarger's language) the "forum
Of their conscience" They say In
effect: We know this money Is not
ours, that 1t was voted illegally. and
that the passage OF tho Act Is a nation
al disgrace /; but il others choose to
take their 3 5000 it Is none of our busi-
ness. But it is their business. 1t is
the duty Of every honest nan In Con-
gress to condemn that act In every
place, and by all methods which lie in
his power. Every man who doesn't
return 1t boldly, Is under the accusa-
ton Of keeping 1t, and so far as his in
fluence extends, helps to justify the
plundersrs who have appropriated
their share.
There may be men In the U. S. Con-
gress who al justify themselves be-
fore their consciences III they EXIST
and their constituents for ~plundering
tho Government by this infamous bill.
II so let :hen face the music. They
do not need nor should they receive
influence, either silent or otherwise,
to aid them in their justification. II
1t Is an honorable act to return the
money-and we think no other course
Is even decent, not to say honorable
let them do it publicly, and get the
credit Of integrity, regardless Of the
effect upon their fellow members, who
can get equal credit by doing like
wise. II it Is the part Of an honest
legislator to pocket the peoples money
In a name which honest men con-
denim, let those who think so keep
their plumber and give their easons.
In such matters the line should be
sharply drawn, and each mans action
be judged by itself. But two or three
men thus far who have appropriated
their $4,000 have attempted justifica-
ton, and their success has not been
remarkable.
II Others can do better they have am
pie opportunity. 1t Is not necessary
to cover their oftenss by silently refus-
ing to accept the fruits through fear OF
wounding their feelings. It Is too
much like whipping the devil around
q stump. We fully appreciate that
modesty and chivalric feeling which
would not elevate ones self at the ex-
pense Of a fellow member, but in this
particular it don't seem to apply. In
returning their share of the back sal
airy steal to the Treasury, no credit is
obtained for those who do it other than
that Of being honest, an attribute
which ought to be, il It is not, the pos
session Of every Congressman, aud we
fall to perceive how the fact that A. b.
has performed an honest action, a
initiate against G. D. who hasn't, but
can IL he chooses. BY this theory we
must refrain from doing right publicly,
lest we hurt the regulations OF thieves.
1t won't do. 1t isn't just to the peo-
pie. II honesty Is so seldom found as
to make 1t a wrong to publish it, the
golden rule ought to be the subject Of
a Presidential proclamation.