The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1876-05-11
THURSDAY, MAY II, 1875.
DSa- Our distinguished neighbor over the

Do Our distinguished neighbor over tht
way devoted nearly half column last week
to ex-Secretary Belknap and his line of de
fence, in which he is particularly savage OF
the unfortunate Secretary and his crime o
interposing any defense at all to shield hin
from the penalty for his misdeeds. Politi
cally and socially Belknap is dead, and il
matters not whether the Senate impeache'
him or not, he will never be heard Of agair
outside of the locality in which he settles
down, unless reference is made TO him in the
future as a caution to evil doers.
But there is little matter on State ac
count which might, with more than ordinary
show of reason, have engaged our distin
guished neighbor attention, but which he
seems really to have considered ofno moment
morally, politically or otherwise. But then
this time it is a Democrat who is the cul prit
and his case would hardly serve as an evi-
dence Of Republican corruption. We refer
to the case of Martin Z. Lynott, a member
of the Pennsylvania House of Representa-
tives from the 9th district of Luzerne county
Martin was expelled from that body for con-
fessedly taking bribe on the celebrated
boom question; and not only bribe, but
two bribes one from those opposed and one
from those in favor of the bill. And not
a alone was Martin but another of like
proclivities one Petroff, of Philadelphia,
preceded him, not exactly for taking bribe
but, as he alleges for pretending to take
one. These splendid specimens of Demo
cracy are thus disgraced and disgrace their
constituency, and yet Democratic journal,
which is continually discovering notes in the
eyes Of its opponents, does not think their
crime worth even a passing notice.
There is lack of consistency here which
we much regret to find in our distinguished
neighbor. If it is criminal in a Republican
Office holder to accept bribes in exchange for
the patronage in his gift, it is certainly Grim
inal in legislator to betray his constituents
who sent him to Harrisburg to protect their
interests, by selling his vote to the highest
bidder
As We insinuated Lynott's companion in
crime pretended that he merely made believe
to sell his vote, in order to discover and
expose those disposed to bribe Lynott insis-
ted that his accepting brbe was only lit
tie indulgence in fun. Perhaps both were in
earnest and told the truth in making these
assertions, and. after all, the idea of the
Philadelphia Times many be correct; that
the expulsion by the House of Representa-
tives was but punishment inflicted out of
sheer indignation, for having a profitable
business thus spoiled on their hands, and be-
fore their greed for money making in this
way had been half satiated That may well
be the case, and indeed is more than likely
and the silence of our distinguished neighbor
may be the result of an admonition that the
least said the soonest mended." But the peo-
pie will want to hear about these things
neighbor, and it is best that their wishes be
gratiied. Let justice be done though the
heavens fall, " and while you are pointing
out all the corruptions of the Republicans,
do not neglect to spice the thing by giving
an occasional note to one of the many cling
ing to the skirts even of the immaculate
Democracy.