The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-06-09
SPEAKER krnn


IN their attempts to keep up the balance
thas il may not appear that Blaine is any
bre corrupt than certain Democratic lea
rs, the Republicans have started Il mis-
|able tale about Speaker Kerr, accusing
IN OF having accepted bribe of $3.50.
his is the way the Mp York World talks
,out it.
II Is a thing to vindicate the cynicsm of
,hopenhauer that such an accusation rs he
now refuting should have been brought
sainst Mr. Kerr, after the pains which he
IS taken in a corrupt era to live an aggres-
3yely honest life He is poor and has lived
Iryears in modest simplicity, and yet his
higality has not saved him from the charge
corruption. He has fought every subsidy
lat came before Congress during his long
ublic career when he could have made his
prlune by the sale of his influence, and
et his Quixotc integrity has Jared no bet.
r than the common roguery that flourished
bout it. He was SO high minded in his
otions of duty that he refused to vote for
increase of his own salary and refused to
ccept the increase when it was voted, al
,ough the back pay was granted especial,
n in behalf of those who like himself had
Pot been reelected to the next congress. aud
let it Is said that he took an open bribe OF
450. He was so peculiarly sensitive to APP
Pearances that he would no. except hospi'
Illities during his earlier years in congress
hich he could not return, and yet he is re-
ported to have become the slave OF party
back He so detests dishonesty that he re
useI to attend the grand birthday party
u notorious public plunderer, where the
D. IN; nd itru
ministers paid homage to ill-gotten wealth,
Ind yet he is accused of companionship with
dishonest door. keeper. He was the cham
pion OF the south during the period of re-
Construction, when power and popularity
we're Mt the disposal of its enemies. He was
he advocate of hard money in the west
|vhen only one or two public men besides
himself dared to stand up for their convic-
ions. His first actions rs speaker tended
10 secure the country against imitation or
Reputation and to fence the treasury against
grants for private enterprises. He cut OF
Che lobby by one edict and the sale OF liquor
n the capitol by another. He has been a
for years, and cannot endure
| he taste of whiskey even when 1t Is pre-
scribed by his physician. He has lived in
Washington society as the colleague OF such
men as Shenck, and does not know one
card from another. He has passed tn rough
the contagious influence of christian states
men like Colfax aud Harlan, and remained
b simple religious man without cant or hy-
pocrisy. And now that he has lived life
df stern adherence to duty, attained its re-.
yard in the confidence of the people, and
apparently stands on the threshold of an
other world, casting the ambition of this be-
hind him, this miserable slander falls upon
him
/ The witness on whose testimony they
rely to establish the guilt ofspeaker Kerr,
Harvey, will be shown to be utterly un-
trustworthy. His conduct in this case has
been record of ialsehood in all its essen
tial features. The policy of the Republican
Party all through the late exposures has
been to attempt to proveR Republican officials
innocent by showing that Democrats are
greater scoundrels. Having failed thus far
they will hardly succeed in blemshing the
fair name of Mr. Kerr.