The Placer herald., 1874-01-03
OFFICIAL INTEGRITY.

serve to themselves the privilege or saying
who that few shall be. On the honesty
ability and fitness of those few to faithfully
and dill emily perform the functions of theil
respective positions, rests the veal or woe Of
our country. Bless us with officials who
have honesty coupled with ability, and whose
efforts shall be consequently exerted in be-
half of the best interests Of the masses
and our prosperity is secured, and the per-
petuity of our free institutions settled
question. But, on the contrary, curse us
with officials whose only brains is their
money, and whose honesty is smothered by
greed for more, and who are morally void
of principle, and know no ones interests
but those of him who can pay them most
for their votes, and our best interests are
sure to be perverted, our people disheartened
and demoraized, and the safety of our sacred
governmental institutions in constant jeop
ardy. The evil which curses our country
to-day is this latter class of officials.
Against these blighting vampires the people
seem to have no security. When their best
inen, bound by the most sacred oaths, turn
against them and sell themselves, their
honor, country, and the welfare of the peo
pie who placed them in power, and then es-
cape unpunished, it is time for the masses
to be alarmed, and urge the enactment of
more rigorous, prompt and effective laws
for the detection and punishment of such
| heartless wretches. Without some more ef
fective security that our officials will spurn
all bribery and corrupting influences, labor
for the people and their best interests, in
spite of money power and corporate in
fuences, we are in danger. No darker
crimes disgrace our race than official treach-
cry. Were it better that a man should kill
his neighbor or subject his country to misery
and starvation? The evil of to-day, we
say again, is the decline of official integrity.
Its rapid decadence dates from the beginning
of our Civil War. While popular thought
| was CuSlOSbCu vi tuC OuC SICdt buUJCCt vi
saving the Union, and patriotic men had
but that grand object in view, schemers and
soulless monoposls coveted the patrimony
of the people, and by corrupt Legislation.
secured immense territorial possessions, and
princely donations of the peoples money.
In the Congress of the United States; in the
Legislatures of the States, and in high Of
fetal circles, the greed of averice-the de-
sire to become suddenly enriched, has pro-
duced moral collapse, far more terrible in
its consequences than any financial panic
that ever swept over our country. Cali
fornia has felt the corupting influences of
the lobby. Session after session have the
skilled agents of decentralization Piled with
success their nefarious calling. The evil
must be attacked with rigorous measures.
No buttermilk lotion will prove effective in
killing these legislative parasites. AS an eff
fectual remedy for such official misconduct,
Senator Roach has introduced bill Of which
we give below a synopsis, and we hope
our Legislature contains men enough, who
are not afraid of being caught by this rogue
trap, to pass it. The motive of intent is
| appealed to to insure the detection of crime
Such system has been effectual in prevent
ing offenses of middlemen, and would have
a moraizing effect on such of our officials
who should feel disposition to be treach-
erous. We can not be too sure of our own
safety, nor can we be too prompt in punish
ing crime nor effectual in our means of de-
lection.
The bill provides: 1st. Any person who
shall promise, offer or give, or cause to be
promised, offered or given to any member of
the Senate Or Assembly OR any State officer,
either before or after he shall have qualified
and taken bis seat, any money, goods, prop
erty or anything of value, or any pecuniary
or individual advantage, with intent to in
fuence his judgment or action upon any
question which is then pending, or which
may be brought before him in bis official po-
sition, shall be punished, on conviction, by
Imprisonment not exceeding five years, or
fined sum not exceeding $1,000. End.
| Any member of the Senate OR Assembly
or State officers who shall accept such bribe
for bis vote or official influence shall be pun
ished, on conviction, by Imprisonment in the
State Prison not exceeding ten years, or by
fine not exceeding 81, 900, or by both. Sd.
Any party who shall give such information
to the Attorney.General as shall lead to the
conviction of any of the above named Of
fcers, for such offense, shall be entitled to
the cum of Sc, 900, to be paid out of the
| General Fund
|