The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-01-20

with his stove-pipe full of 900 checks
but he seems to have been very fruga
gentleman, for New Yorker, on hearing
how much cash he had in those days
was indignant because he had daily
walked with him down the Capito
Avenue without being invited to take {
drink!
What dumb lot of frst-class fools
the managers of the Pacific Mail must be
to waste a million upon some Bohemians
and a gang Of independent lobby brag.
CARTS and bloatsl They must have
thought that such congregation of i'm.
pertinent rascals constituted third es.
tate that was lord paramount of all the
other estates! DO men Of such gigantic
commercial enterprises as the Pacific
Mail usually take such persons to be the
master spirits of the age? 1t is true that
newspaper correspondents have influ-
ence over some very shallow members
OF Congress. We have seen such men,
bers as Garfield and Colfax ''honeying"
with a correspondent of Cincinnati
o urnal, and that correspondent was
eternally applauding Garfield and Col
fax. No doubt said correspondent
had influence with these men,
bers, and on measures that did
not directly affect their constituents
they would probably secure additional
'puffs" by voting on the advice Of the
correspondent, who was supposed to
know more about them than they did!
In this way the bribery OF correspondents
may effect something; but what of the
character of such members as are thus
influenced? 1t is just as much bribery
as direct cash bargain for their votes.
Some Of the lobbyists may also work i'll
to the affections of weak members; but
as they have no news-horns to blow for
them how can they do much, except by
persuasion, without the use OF money!
The fact that Washington is thronged
by professional lobbyists, and that news
paper correspondents have 80 much
power over the legislation of the coun-
try indicates very low moral and intel
lectual standard for the average Con-
gresham. The first cause, therefore, of
our political depravity is in the neglect
of the people to elect men who have
proved themselves worthy to represent
them in the government of great ma
tion.
1t is not for the interest of either cor
respondents or lobbyists to expose men,
bcrs who have been bribed, because it
would put future congressman on their
guard as matter of policy, and the
occupation of the lobby would be gone.
An unfortunate circumstance is that
the corruption of newspaper men by Pa
citic Mail checks is spoken of very lightly
by the chief editors of our "Metrepoli-
tan" journals. This looks as if such
favors for the support of measures in
matter of course. Is this the character
Of American journalism? The people are
very generally of the opinion that money
will secure any kind of personal favor
plSSos lO oCCuo to u thC ltS u
remnant of confidence in editorial intcg-
rity were destroyed since it was shown
how the foremost religious journal of the
country was bribed in the interest of the
Northern Pacific railway by Jay Cooke.
We should not suppose that wise edi-
tors could contemplate such a reputation
with supreme complacency. 1t is fatal
blow to the morality of the country.
ng- Indignant correspondents are now
trying to show that fifteen or more men,
bers deposited $1,000 checks about the
time they voted on the subsidy, but no
names are given. Should this be proved,
what signifies fifteen or twenty thousand
dollars for Congressman against $25, 900
for single editor and $4,000 to $4,000 to
mere newspaper reporters? 1t would
show that congressman average much
lower than we have calculated in the
above argument. Look at $75A,000 OF
81, 900, 900, or more as some suppose, eX-
pended at Washington ior the subsidy,
ahd those who had the votes only getting
about thirtieth part of it?