Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-01
THE SENATORSHIP.

the election of United States Senator in
creases as the session of the Legislature
approaches. Unable to accomplish any
thing by their own legitimate strength
their leaders are industriously plying ev'
cry artifice to corrupt and make subser.
Went to their designs portion of the re-
publican members ofthe Legislature. They
hold up for bargain and sale what strength
they can command in the legislature, Of
fering to cast it here or there. for this oil
that republican, or in the language OF
Cakes Ames, to place it 'where it will dc
the most good" Their papers talk very
glibly about corruption in the republican
party, but the corruption in the Credit
Mobilier, in the salary grab, or in the Pa
cifc Mail. is small compared with the de-
pravity lurking under the proposition to
sell out a party to the highest bidder. We
do not charge the individual democratic
members of the coming legislature with
being concerned in this bargain and sale
of their votes. for we believe the most OF
them would scorn the idea of making mer-
chandisc of their principles, but that lead
ing democrats have assumed to be able
and willing and ready to transfer them to
any prominent republican who will accept
them and endeavor to carry with them a
sufficient number of republican votes tc
elect him to the senate, is publicly known
in this and other States. 1t is but justice
to the Portland Argus to say that it has
not endorsed in its columns any schemes
to sell the democratic party, and We take
it that the Argus represents in this the
sentiments Of the democrats of the legis
lature-certainly it does those of every
honorable man among them.
This corrupt proposition to sell the dem.
ocratic strength in the legislature presup'
poses that there are prominent republi
cans corrupt enough to bargain with the
democratic leaders, also that there are re-
publican members of the legislature who
may be corrupted and betray their party
and principles. We have too much conf.
dence in men, ana particularly in the
prominent members Of the republican par
ty and the representatives elect to the leg.
islature, to believe that any of them would
become parties to trade with the demo
Gratis in relation to United States Senator
There are reports circulating which to the
many may wear suspicious look. but re.
ports are easily set afoat, and often with
the purpose Of misleading. We venture
to say that when the legislature meets all
reports impeaching the honor and integ.
rity Of the republican members will speed.
lily be put at rest. Their differences on
the senatorial question will be honorably
and tremendously settled among them.
selves, according to fair party usage.
There will be no traffic in votes, no sell
ing out Of principle on either the republi.
can or democratic side. Each will nomi.
nate as candidate for senator an expo.
nent of its party. and sustain him until the
issue is settled. 1t is preposterous to sup
pose that schemes which assume that
men are all corrupt, that they may be
bought and sold in the market like cattle.
can succeed in this State. Much as we
dislike the democratic party we have too
good an opinion of the honesty Of the
masses to believe they win consent to be
sold for the benefit Of any senatorial as
pirant. and certainly We have no need to
say that we think better of republicans
than to have the first shade of suspicion
that they will barter their principles or
betray their party for any consideration.