The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-10-18

HoAR, OF MASS, IN THE BELKNAI
IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, MAY I, 1875.
TERRIBLE ARRANGEMENT OF RErUB.
llCAN ADMINlSTRA-
TON.
The following were the closing sent
ences of Mr.. Hoar's speec: !
"My own public life has been very
brief and Insignificant one, extending
little beyond the duration of single
term of Senatorial Office, but in that
brief period have seen five judges of
u high court of the United States driven
from office by threats of impeachment
for corruption or administration. I
have heard the, tannt from friendliest
lips, that when tho United States pre-
sented herself in the East to take part
whit tile civilized world in generous
competition in the arts of life, the only
product of her institutions III which
she surpassed all others beyond ques'
ton was her corruption. l have seen
in the State in tho Union foremost in
power and wealth four judges Of hex
courts impeached for corruptlon and
the political administration Of her chief
city become a disgrace and a by-word
throughout the world. have seen the
chairman Of the Committee on Military
Affairs in the House, now distinguish
ed member of this Court, rise in his
place and demand the expulsion offopr
of his associates for making sale .of
thir official privilege of selecting the
youths to Be educated at our great
military school. When the greatest
railroad of the world, binding together
the continent and uniting the twogreat
seas which wash our shores, was finish
ed, l have seen our National triumph
and exaltation turned to bitterness and
shame by the unanimous reports ofthree
mittees of Congress, two of the
House, and one here, that every step
of that mighty enterprise had been
taken in fraud. have heard in high
est places the shameless doctrine avow-
ed by men grown old in public Office
that the true way by which power
should be gained in the Republic is to
bride the people#with the Offices created
for their service, and the true end for
which it should becaused when gained
is the promotion OF selfish ambition
and the qualification of personal re-
venge. l have heard that suspicion
haunts the footsteps of the trusted COM
panioDs OF the President. These things
have passed into history. The Hallam
or the Tacitus, or the Sislnondi, or the
Macaulay who writes the annals of our
| time will record them with his inex0a-
bic pen; and now, when a eigh Cabinet
officer, the constitutional adviser OF the
Executive, fees from Office before
charges of corruption, shall the histor@
ian add that the Senate treated the de-
mand of the people for its Judgment Of
condemnation as farce and laid down
its high functions before the sophistries
and jeers of the criminal lawyer I
: Shall he speculate about the petty pol@
itical calculations as to the effect Oh
, one party or the other which induced
. his judges to couniye at the escape Of
the graf. public criminal; or, OF the
other band, shall he close the chapter
: by narrating how these things were de-
teced, reformed and punished by con,
e stitutional processes which the wisdom
i of our fathers devised for us, and the
! virtue and purity of the people found
It their vindication in the justice of the
j. Senate7"