Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-03-14


the Blade says.
"Thers are few thiars more painful than the |
downfall ofs cherished friend or the blasting Of
the reputation OF one whom we have learned to |
respect and admire. II always produces a |
severe shack 10 feel that we have been bstraysd
by snsin whom we have placed the nest implis- |
II confidence. In private life, we often permit
our feelings to guide our action in sueh eases,
and we strive to f"rgvs aud forget, iu the hope
that a reformation NAV reward our charitable
acts. This is we'll. under some circumstances.
Where such leuisncy may not operate as a
license for the wrsng doing Of others, aud whsre
there is single Eoud reason upon which 10 base
hope for the reformation Of the offender, By all
means make the effort to shield him with your
kindness and TO support him with your conf
dencs. But whsrs yOur lsnisney and unwith-
drawn confidence may operate a. q license, or
an invitation for shers to follow h the footsteps
Of the shielded offender, great wrong would be
committed did Jou not at onos and severely
Tsbuks aud punish the guilty, thereby making
an example which might prove The only shield
for the protection Of others who may have their
attention called 10 the oasnss and lie treatment.
"This principle should be applied to the
Congressional offenders Publie servants sus.
tain relations entirely different from those Of
private citizens. Whatever public officer may
do, will be closely scrulinized and lts effect
upon the public will be carefully noted. Mem.
bsrs of Congress when detected in the betrayal
ofihs trust confled to them, may hays the sym
palhy of personal friends, and il s barely posi-
BILE that reformation might take place with at
a rssnrt to extrsms measures, but public inter
ssts would thus be sacrificed upon at best but
an uncertain experiment. II will not answer
for the people to say that an officer who has
sworn to protect their interests may turn traitur
and whom detected escape condemnation. No |
safety can exist in sueh a course. Public
of1ses are not rsfsrmatories where seoundrsls
NAV be converted into good citizens. 0fioial
positions cannot ba converted into such use.
The people eannut affird 10 honoT, or keep In a
public office. any man who may prove dishonest
and unworthy Of public cJnhdenc4. Every
interest sf the people, and the safety Of free
institutions, can emily be secured by exaetng
strict Integrity cn the part Of those who may be
chosen to rule the people.
LET us hops that better onunsols may yet
preyail-that men will not rush ~ tho defense
Of those who have proved unworthy Of public
confidence. Official integrity must be main
tained, no matter at what cost to personal
ling or reputation. Better sen1 men intn the
retirement OF private life bY regiments, than |
dishonest officials and the liberties OF the Nation
endangered in the hands Of INSCRIPTIONS and
ambitious men. Corruption or crime On the part !
OF puhlie officer, cannot be excused without |
great danger to the Republic.
"The people must, therefore, n they weuld /
protect their rights and preserve their liberties,
frswn Indignantly upon even the ssmblanes Of /
corruption on the part NJ these TO whom they !
eanhds their interests. There must be 40 toady- /
ism about the feet Of those who have proved l
unworthy Of public confidence. They must not |
be given an opportunity to betray the people a /
second time. The mantle or Christian charity /
Is broad. but It was never dssignsd to be used |
as the ass used the lions skin, fer the purpose
OF deceivinR the people and palming of upon
them bogus specimens Of humanity. '0vatious'
are all well enough in their place. but when
designed 10 uphnld official corruption and ap-
plaud the bstrsTsr of sacred trust, they par
take Of the spirit Of a lAwlsss nab, and must
DO condemned by honest people every where"
FROM THE SEw YORK TINES.
The day following the vote in the House
10 sxpsI BRooKs and AMKs, the New York
rimss--which is ever prompt to condemn aud
expose corru ption- contained the following
The House OF Representatives. yestsrday,
showed that II knew its duty, aud did mot dare
AHzs and Brooks by rejecting resolution con-
aiming the negative Of that proposition. Itss-
that these members committed the
,densss of which they were accused, ard this Il
was made by a more than
1 tws-thirds vote. But though the men were
guilty, and might be expelled, the House had
not the courage to expsl them.
II the resolution passed with reference to
AMEs, Yesterday, means anything, 1t ia that he
'fsr0i brides to members Of Congress. It de-
,lares that the House Absolutely condemns the
;ondust of 0AKEs AMEs in seeking 10 procure
attention TO the affairs Of a cor
'oration in which he was interested, aud whose
interest directly depended on the Legislation Of
Congress, BY inducing members of Congress 10
invest In the stock Of said corporation"
Here are all the elements OF bribery-ths iu-
crest Of the bsiber. the purpose to be sasetsd
he means ussd-d16nitsly set down aud "abse-
utely oondsnusd." In the same way, IL the
sso utien conserving BaooKs means anTthinR,
I lie that he was bribsl. Il declares that the
House absolutely condemns tie csuduet of
JANEs Books for the use Of bis position OF
jSTsrumsnt Director Of the Union Pacific Rail-
pruCuto I
he assignment 10 himself or family Of stock in
he Credit MSbiiier Of America, a corpora ton
iaving contract with the Union Pacific Rail
uAa. and whass interests depended directly
ipon the legislation Of Congress-"
Here, also, are all the elements OF an offsuse
he counterpart OF the one of which ASEs was
Tho use Of aihcisl position corrupt
J. the method Of using il. and the way in which
Is use was connected with continuous lsgisla-
ion, are described and absolutely condemned !"
ANEs is picture as giver. BRoozs ss a taker
4 bribes. And yet the House. BY 4 vote Of lis |
y ITO, refused even tn consider resolution Of
Kpulsi0n. No Comment 10 necessary to char
cterizs such action as this. II eharactsrizss
lsslf
We have already said that Ia these proceed.
nEs the House Of Representatives itself was on
rial. 1t certainly was not to have bssn ex-
ected that when the preliminary examinlt ton
Tas over, and the accused body was fairly ar
Aligned, It would enter plea Of guilty. THIS
what tho hsuse has done, and the perfect
afrete with which il has dnns II. adds ts the
npresSivensss Of the act. The most unfortu-
ate ending that could have been anticipated
Ias that the House wauld fail to see the real
ature Of the transactions ni its members or
'ould sndsavor by some dslusivs and svasivS
lrm OF words to conceal their real nature. Ii
light have been feared that, without DENYING
: conesaling the nature Of the transactions the
ause might plead that il hal no power g. deal
ith them, because they occurred bsf0rs its
rm Of existence began. But recourse has not
cen had TO either sf these alternatives. The
muse has characterized the course OF AMEs and
RooKs as corrupt, and has confessed its juris-
lctian with reference to them. But IL has re- X
lsed to act. Such a conclusion can only be at b
ibuled to neral cswardies. No other no,iye cl
sufficient to account for it. Psrhap, the peo- al
10 ought to feel relieved tina. our Representa- e.
yes are not bold enough to rejso: hi9h stand. o,
I'd OF official morals or to try 10 osnceaI viola W
ons nf Il. But il is but poor consolation for ct
e mortifying spectacle Of yesterday, and the as
,oPle will not accept it. The impression upon ~
s Popular mind will be one Of quiet but dceD al
I'd lasting disappointment and regret. Il will 10
ldaubtedly be recognized that the auaaeiaus b!
,mnrAlity Of BurLER, or the speeious and art
i immortality of FARSswoRrH, IL exhibited by :
g body Of the House, would have been more A
vnltnR an more threatening. But il woeld Z
Irdly have besa more disheartening. 4