The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-06
Fremont and Corruption.

The N. Y. San is out with o new expos |
ure of Republican rascality in relation tol
Fremont aud the FL Paso railroad. What
seems to be made plain 80 far is that Gen.
Fremont's Memphis and Ell Paso railroad
company set aside in 1868 and 1869 stock
and bonds to the par value Of nearly $l2,
100000 for the purpose of briblng congress.
Only a small part of the money is traced
in the papers now published, although
several prominent politicians figure in the
correspondence In most questionable
light. Among the names which figure are
Senator Morton, Representatives Shanks
and Hunter, of Indiana; Donnelly Of Min
nesota, Blanton Duncan and several lobby
lists. There has been an interesting story
in circulation as to the relations sustained
to this matter by a member of the Uniteo
States supreme court, on whose oroer
receiver in bankruptcy was appointed for
the Memphis and Ell Paso road, he calmly
sitting at the time, not at any point
within his judicial district, but in Newark.
NJ. IF this story be true, the subject
would have some curious bearing, and we
trust that the documents yet to be pro-
duced may cast some light upon it. The
documents are not yet complete, but the
revelations, so far, are very rich.
John G. Fremont was the first candidate
Of the Republican party for the Presidency
of the United States. The Republican
party was then professedly aparty of great
moral ideas, and not, as now, all but con
fessedly q party of plumber. This same
Gen. Fremont was the purchasing agent
as it now appears, of the members of the
Forty-Hrst congress for the project ,rs of @
railway line. How many members OF con,
gress he purchased does not yet clearly ap-
pear. The bill for which he was the lob
byist passed the house Of representatives
and a prinsa facie case is made against
very large number, at least, If not ma
iorlty of the Republican members OF tina
body. Whether this business is beVon'
the reach OF investigation by congress W
do not know. 1t is not beyond the reac
of popular Judgment. 1t is piece, an
q very important piece, of the evidenc
which for years has been accumulating tina
the rottenness of the Republican party
beyond the reach of any antiseptic;
The only thing to be done with it is t
bury it out Of sight. The people hav
given their verdict to that effect already
The very congress that is sitting in WASH
ington now is the ghost of a dead party
The members of it may squeak and gibbe
and try as for week they have been try
ing to defraud their heirs, but it is to Z
purpose at all The party is palpab,l
dead. Such revelations as this of the l
Paso road can not do much more than e.
asperate people that it remains unburlet
One thing more they can do. They ca
put stigma on the rascals whom they e!
pose and make their political banishmel
deserved social ban. For this reaso
aud for this only, they ought now to
made. -
The Shankses and Hunters and su
like are of no consequence. There
much higher game than that in this bu
ness. The bill for grant to the Me-
phis, FL Paso and Pacific Railroad. viii
was introduced into the house by Shanl
was introduced into the senate by Div
P. Morton, of Indiana. Already Shan
and some of the small-fry in congress .
labelled beyond the chance of mistal
There are as plain labels waiting
larger men. As for General Fremo
there was not much need of puttin
fresh label on him, but we should supp
he could no longer humbug even the m
gushing and gulhble of his former
mirerS