, 1873-03-10
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY,


| tho Credit Mobilier affair very much as might
have been expected. AS We ventured to predict
| Some weeks ago, it has refused to expel any
| body; but it has censurod Messrs. Brooks and
Ames, which we did not think it would do-uot
| because we did not believe those gentlemen de-
| served censure, but because We thought censure
simply too ridiculous a penalty even for the
House to intlict. Why the penalty is ridiculous
| Of course hardly needs explanation. II Oakes
Ames, in his dealings with the members in Credit
Mobilier stock, did not mean to exert corrupt
| influence on them, his transactions are no more
matter for comment by Congress than his deal
ings with his customers at Easton. II he did mean
| to exort corrupt or corrupting influence on
them, Of course he has been guilty Of hegravest
! ofrense which member Of Congress- qua mcm-
| her, could commit. Consuming him, therefore,
is very like finding man guilty of wilfull u.ur-
der, and then reminding him, by way OF punish.
that he must be more watchful in future. Tho
same thing may bo said, with still greater
| force, OF Mr.. Brooks case.
There were scenes and incidents in the do
bate, too, which illustrated most powerfully the
| depth OF the prevailing demoralzation, and
which explained pretty clearly how it is that tho
| investigation has ended in nothing. Every step
in the proceedings revealed clearly that wide
spread reluctance to punish anybody, or to
apply to the vices Of anybody in particular the
disapprobation which We, in our books and ser
mons, inf1ict On vice in tho abstract, OF
which we spoke few weeks ago in
commenting on the failure.of the Bar Association
in its pursuit Of the Erie counsel. There was q
world OF meaning in the spectacle presented by
Onkes Ames sitting bathed in tears, with q big
bouquet Of flowers in front Of him, in the char
acter OF & national hero prosecuted by an: nn-
grateful country, like the weu~known Christie
who is rather proud OF being a rascal, and boasts
of his freedom from such incumbrances as con-
science or honor, stood manfu1ly forward, not in
defense only, but in glorifcation Of him, But
lor himself being clearly the leading man in the
a@scmb1age, defiant, courageous, .imperious. the
cynosure OF ali eyes, fresh from having INSTRUCT
Ell the House in its duty, as guardian of the
National honor, in the distribution Of tue Ala
bama fund. The attitude OF the rest Of tho
body was not less instructive. There were no
signs whatever Of shame, or indignation, or OF
any other emotion With noble side to it. The
whole debate reminded one of the efforts Of
herd OF sheep to find an opening in fence
through which they might escape barking dog
frantic eagerness in front Of all attractive-look-
ing holes. One little motion, amendment, and
point Of order followed the other, the sharp,
ingenious fellows carrying of the hono1s Of the
after which they seem to have wiped their
brows and breathed freely. The House, in
short, allowed the very prevalent dread OF per
Sons who have committed crimes and offenses.
the peculiar possession Of people who have no
morality. Honest men hang their heads in the
presence Of q rascal. They try him with great
reluctance, pass sentence on him with
sobs and groans, and then beg Of him
their business and when he refuses to run, and
proceeds to slap their faces, they are profoundly
impressed by his pluck-think that he must have
good in him after all, and, remembering his
mother and sistera, and his early attendance On
scribe to set him up in business. The result is
that criminals begin to have hearty contempt
for Us, and, far from reponting them Of their
crimes are daily cursing their moderation in not
society begins. to resemble that Of the pick
pockets who took gentleman's watch aid purse
in broad daylight, two or three years ago, on the
platform Of q Fourth avenue car, and when he
demonstrated, kicked him of and laughed at him
as he ran after them penniless on foot.
What effect will all this have on the Republic
can party This Is the question which every
body is naturally asking, because, whatever Con-
Eress may Say or do, everybody who doea not
se as sboa he c @ obsr sGes Is
very different from that which seems to prevail
In the House, and that this sentiment will soon-
or or later find expression at the polls. But
there ia and will continue to be more or less dif-
ference Of opinion as to its nature and objects
Harper's Weekly, for instance, which found no
difficulty in making the Democratic party respon-
sible for the doings Of the New York Ring,
thinks that the Republican party cannot proper
10 an nnlu ne9pons!ae 1oF ;n.i rIn 1nan
u W. +,'at .o6 an - r. crad;t
eI NY ;nas 1o 10 ~ ~ oore -
th hn1 1oa snoa % ala a. ,re LIE tha napl
~ s11a ~ as,a1p soig4s' n1 fnd
othar s1d Lonost"r uoa y" - do tto f. Tor Thia
ia Iao;t;noota -.e,e ~ +hsnrv vi;ch
tha Wset1,, hsa 1o1ae heid ~ vh;c 1{T HenTv
su;1son daSanda ~ .aoa H,,s'se-t lat summer
ar.,nat the attocs ~ ~ ~ ~ N,o ~ tiat tho
Rennbican nsTt1 ia ~ a. 10 oraan;zat;on anaiocons
n tha 1?hr;stsan Hh,rct I 1,ss;no oona il roneral
- suo GnutG1 uasu6 Svo1 - s; 1a.;s
1st;on ~ @ ~. n9 10 nnnons that thera
fona it, 1a,i1ra - caTrv ot snv nar1icniar 1ino
nf nolicv NJ to anact .Iv narticn1ar laws. or the
OF o. ITS e and
confdanca tha- ~ 1s;,,,ra - tba Chr;stian |
Church thus far to convert the world,
or tha had behavior ~ it, c1erev il destructive Of
It's claims to t1ivina nr;ein fhia theory has, Of |
conrne. n hasis ;n.f.ct that is. that the
party does reaiiv contain rar7 large proportion
Of the virtue and intellieence Of The country,