Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-01-23
Communications.
The Credit suopiiCr swIndIe.

There seems TO bavo been great silence
on the Credit Mobiior affair of late. Is 1t
to be allowed to fall into oblivion "a a kind
of compromise between the people and their
Congress, the people tacitly agreeing to say
no more about it, in consideration of having
tho pay-grab repealed? 1t is about timo
that the fashion of compromising, which
was set us in the high days Of slavery,
should be changed, and some other fashion,
a little more in accordance with moral prin-
ciple, be adopted.
Perhaps it is on some principle of pious
respect for human weakness that this Cred
it Mobllier shame is hidden from public
view, such as that which animated the re-
spotted sons of Noah, in going backward
and hiding their parent with blanket.
But though the parallel is ingenious, yet
there does not seem to be any essential
samenesss or parity in the cases. why
should the representatives Of the people 90
backward to cover up the sins OF Congress
from a close examination? There are sew
eral important witnesses TO the case who
have not yet been on the stand. Why are
they not called?
The question is not ono ofparty or ofpcr-
sons, but Of decency, of humanity itself.
The question is not how we may save our
party, but how we can save our republican
institutions; not how we can save the rep
resentatives of party from the consequences
of neglect of duty and positive crime, but
how we can save our youth from the per-
nicious example of swindling, cheating,
breach of trust and of truth, set them by
men in high places. This is the real ques-
ton tina. is pressing for solution; and al
ready the case has been SO long delayed that
the disease has become chronic, and its cue
been rendered comparatively difficult, de-
handing something more than simple rem
edies.
1t is useless to shut the eyes 10 the DIM
Guilty any longer. Tie condition Of the
country requires something else besides
closed eyes, fair speeches, glib tongues, and
nimble myers. While these monstrous a.
buses of pay grabs, Credit Mobiiier sw in
dies, and laundalet pilferiug> have been 50
ing on, TO say nothing OF the gross viola
tons of law by political committees send
ing their trash through the mails TO all
quarters of the county, what have our del
tSdllOll btttl hpllE AldNt my bGtll 'lAANh
to sound the alarm? How much are the
people Of the State indebted to them for
knowledge OF the corruption that has been
going on like a cancer striking - the very
heart ofour liberties?
Evidently, a new machinery Las been put
into American society since 1889. 1t is
machinery that works rs smoothly as that
steam engine in the Philadelphia mint that
silently coins double eagle AT every stroke.
1t is silent, hidden machinery that puts
crafty man in office and then lauds his inci-
ticiency to the very echo, until gross ada
lation has become the fashion of the day,
and to infringe its rules is an evidence Of
harshness and ill-brcedng.
Would the people here in Vermont save
their Republican party? II so, they must
make it respectable. The question is not
one Of persons; it has got beyond that. If
we would save our republican institutions
we must have "A different ma chincry; one
that will not s"indle 4 man out Of his vote,
and the vote out Of its value.