The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-03-27

THE CLOSING SCENE.
The wires las, night brought the news from
Washington Of Alexander Caldwells resig-
nation. The information was unexpected.
II came without premonitioD, and produced
utter surprise. That Mr.. Caldwell should
have made such desperate effort 10 hold his
place in the United States Senate, and then
surrender before the Senate had given ex-
preston by 4 vote, was accounted most sin
gular. II was commonly supposed be would
fisht to the bitter end. Evidently he ascer-
tanned by close canvassing. that either the
resolution of Morton's committee, or the res
olution 70 eIpel would prevail, and re-
signed to mitigate in some degree the dis
grace that would attach to expulsion. What
ever his motives might have been the result
is all he same, and all over the Union it
will be accepted a . triumph Of
honesty over fraud; victory of honor
over dishonor. We do not rejoice in Mr..
CaldwelPs distress. We cannot find it in
cur hearts to glory in the humiliation and
di-grace of any fellow creature, but We do
rejoice exceedingly, that in the termination
of the trial, truth, justice and purity have
been able to Withstand the insidious and
powerful advances of money ccrruptly used.
The mere fact Of Caldwell res;gning and re-
firing to private lie, is in itself unim-
por.ant, but in grouping together all the in
cidenis surrounding his career and enforcing
his retirement, we End that an important
precedent has been established. The action
| of the United States Senate in this Gaze was
timely. People had begun to dispair. Cor
rup,ion was 30 paIpable, fraud go bold and
bribery 20 Common, that discerning citizens
saw a danger besetiing the Republic, and
threatening TO put 4 money value on every
principle of liberty and human right. Men
stood appalled, when eminent Senators arose
in the United States Senate and defended
bribery, and for time it seemed that the
highe.t legislative body in the Republic was
destined to succumb 10 the mighty influence
of Mammop. But as Senators debated the
question from day TO day, ~ they unfolded
the history of the election page BY page, and
revealed the transactions Of bribery in all
their hideous Determines a sense of future
danger to the nation impellcd them to take
determined stand against corruption, and
the determination with which they stood de-
feated the designs of Logan, Cameron, and
other money changers, and vindicated the
Senate.
MIR. Caldwelrs resignation terminates the
second Kansas Senatorial drama of the year,
and now The TINES is for peace with him.
If he will now call off the hirelings who
have been paid TO SANDER and assail Us, and
silence the subsidized newspapers that have
teen pcurished and foetered TO malign
us, the fight shall close The
va, upon us by the journalistic creatures OF
Mr.. Caldwell has been unparalleled in news
paper warfare. No right, public or social,
has been held sacred from invasion; no feel
ing has been respected, and no courtesy Of
Whatever nature considered. The assaults
have leen brutal, low flung and Infamous,
and while not enanatins directly
from the ex-senator, they came from
creatures whose actions he controlled
and whose language he approved by pay
ments of money which enabled them to live.
Still respecting the desire Of the people Of
Leavenworth for cessation of the strife, We
are willing to let by-gones be by-gonea, and
unite with all good citizens in the upbuild-
ing of Leavenwor,h.
1t is fitting ard proper 70 say row that
Mr.. Caldwell Is himself unmerciul and un-
forgiving. When he was elevated to power
he turned his back upon the men who sup
ported him most honorably, and spurned
those who had rendered him the greatest
service. Acting on the merest suspicion
that his friends would prove false, he violated
every treaty OF friendship, and crushed his
fr;en,.s as remorselessiy as he pursued
his enemies. He rrver cou,ted
Cancellation, and ion his lofty
position of United States Senator,
looked down with calm disdain, or cool in
difference upon those who had been most
active in his promotion. To his enemies he
knew not the word forgiveness. A truce he
never consented to, until his annihila'ion
seemed imminent. His attitude illustrated
"Pride going before q fall" with a force
and distinctness not often shown.
Bad advisers he had in scores,
and as bad as the advice they gave, worse
still it wss that he needed il.
He is crushed down now, and THE TINES
makes it as a'prediction that the creatures
Who were most servile in their fxwning will
Re the most spiteful In their jeers at his ex-
tremity.
the CALDWELL PRECEDENF.
The Tunes, of New York, the leading
National organ Of the Republican party, in
/ u MI Ill a