Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-03-18
WHAT a PITY.


slip through the Democratic Congress
sional Committees fingers and turn up
in Canada at the time be was most needed
to prove the corruption existing in the
Republican Court" were a perfect god
send to the Democracy, in the way Of
political capital for the present Presiden-
/ tial campaign. But as there is no rose
without thorn, no sweet without an ac-
companying bitter, so it turns out that
corruption is not confined to one set Of
men, or to any one political party. Just
as the jubilant Democracy are preparing
to show that the Republican party is one
mass of corruption, and to unearth 1T IN
quarters hitherto undreamed of, it re-
ceives a little "set-b back" by some revela-
own trusted and prominent leaders are as
deep in the mud as the Republicans in
the mre, and that if the investigations
proceed in true spirit it will be found
that so far from establishing the corrup-
ton of one party and the godliness of the
other, il will be found that all are in the
same boat. 1t is sad, very sad, that such
glorious opportunity TO "ring in " for
n Presidential term through the proven
dishonesty of Republicans in high places,
should be lost simply upon the showing
that the leaders of the grand old party
are no whit more worthy Of trust than
those whom they seek to displace. But
facts are stubborn things, and as Mcssrs.
Randall, Hendricks and Pendeton, all
of whom are sufficiently prominent in
Democratic circles to be classed as posi-
Bile Presidential candidates, are shown to
be as corrupt as Belknap and his set,
the nation will begin to think that there
is no possible show to gain anything by
making an exchange.
But we are no respecter Of persons, and
where the crime Of official dishonesty can
be proven, whether it falls within or
without the ranks Of our party, we say as
before, Let the investigation proceed" d"
The ann of every coed citizen should be
to secure good government, and if he fails
to labor with that aim, he is him self in a
measure responsible for the evils which
may befall, We have clung to the Re-
publican party for the reason that we be-
leved its principles the ones which should
control our policy. When the Republi-
can party becomes mere instrument to
raise men to positions where they can
enrich themselves by p!undcring the pub
lie, it becomes time to look out for a
change of programme. But in this as in
every other case Of political wrong, the
remedy lies within the party and not
without. 1t possesses within itself the
elements of good government and all
that is needed is to see that the elements
are brought into prominence to the exclu-
sion of all that is wrong. Every expert
ence goes to show that it would be idle to
look for honest administration from Dem
ocratic hands. With the recollection of
the rule of Boss Tweed in New York
G ty, when the party was out of power
eve ywhcre but there, and should have
been on its good behavior" fresh in our
minds, we could see but little hope in n
change of party, and the revelation affect
ing prominent national Democrats servo
simply to show they are "brds of n
feather" But there is n remedy for ev-
cry wrong, and that remedy is the prompt
punishment of official dishonesty, no mat
ter what the station or what the political
influence of the offender,
We are sorry that the Democratic In
vestigating Committee, in its 'searchings
after truth" permitted the escape Of the
chief witness Of the prosecution. lie has
told his story, it is true, and until that is
disproved Secretary Belknnp is placed in
an unenviable position. But when laws
are broken we want to see the stern rec
ompense meted out, and that can only
be done after the accused has had fnir
and impartial trial. 1t looks little as
though Marsh might be able to give evil
dence that would injure other parties
whom it 'texactly Democratic policy
10 have Injured. Or that perhaps, by
closing out one investigation it would
form a precedent for not pressing others.
We cannot for n moment suppose the
escape OF the chief witness was due only
to the stupidity of the Committee. And
the only conclusion we can reach is this
that official dishonesty exists in both
parties alike and that the masses of tho
people will have to take the party ma
chinery out Of the hands Of the politicians
before the millennium of good govern
ment can be looked for. But it is pity,
nevertheless, that just rs faint hope of
return to the flesh pots of Egypt begins
to gladden. the hungry l'eart of the aver
age Democrat, ii should be wiped out
through the shortcomings of the party
leaders.
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