New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-25
Couueceicut's Shame.

Tho resent sale Of the "lsnd of steady
habitsD to q mere political financier Is
enough to make every citizen OF Connect.
cut hang his head in shame. The thing
va: done 80 openly and 90 orazeniy as to %
try and slap in the face to all who in this
year of centennial rejoicing would like to
make favorable comparisons between the
present and the past. 1t makes no differ
ence that, in this instance, it lie the Democ-
racy who have disgraced the State, and no:
for the first time. No matter what political
party should be convicted OF such shame
iessness, the fact remains that the disgrace
has been infl;cred and the honor OF the ma
ton itself assaulted. As the smoke of the
sens. orlsl battle clears away and the actual
facts of the Democratic family fight get
known, it becomes all the more manifest
that our worst suspicious touching the de-
graduation of Connecticut politics were we'll
founded.
The letter which Mr.. I. H Bromley sends
to the Tribune, after q careful survey OF
the battle ground, puts the matter in light
calculated to impress every honest citizen,
of whatever party, with sense OF humliia-
ton. The writer must be admitted to be
an intelligent observer IS well as graphic
DISORDER of political affairs in Connecticut,
since he Was for years editor OF the Har;-
ford Post previous to his connection with
the New York Tribune as it's political ed
itor. The story he tells, and tells SO well.
should be read by everybody. 1t erects .
monument to Democratic trickery which
We incline to think will never Do pulled
down. The main features of this auction
sale of the United States SenatOrship Of
Connecticut have already been made noto-
Nous. Every BODY knows by this time that
the contest was not one in which Quathca-
tion-such as patriotism, honesty, dignity,
culture, or even past services-had part,
but simply which Of two individual party
leaders should first succeed IN getting his
money bid recognized by the legislative
auctloneers. And the event has shown, we
notice. that even in the knocking down o.
the senatorial seat, the highest bidder was
ignored and the lowest bid was successful.
I. appears that Mr.. English was gulled
into paving $50 900 to the Democratic State
Committee for Expenses" of the recent
campai2n-the consideration being dis
tinct promise Of his election to the United
States Senate. While this performance was
going on with Mr.. English, another was set
going whereby Mr.. Barnum, for an addi-
| tional ST., 000 secured precisely the same
| promise from this immaculate committee.
| This gave the party $35, 900 to work with in
the election Of Legislature. After the re-
| turns were in and the candidates to the
| Legislature elected, it suddenly dawned
upon Mr.. English and friends that MI. Bar
mum was q candidate for the SenatOrshi 2
which the former had bought and paid for
| Then came to the front Mr.. Barnum and
| his friends Haunting what was virtual bill
of sale (receipted, withall of the Senator
| ship to him. Tableau. When the Legisla..
ture began to vote it was soon discovered
that there was cheating around the board.
and that Mr.. English had been betrayed
by the men he had trusted. And, So
when the end of all this trading was
reached, the Senatorshlp was delivered over
| to the lowest and least qualified bidder
which his name is w. II. Barnum.
Poor Connecticut, how fallen! Con
demned to be inexperienced and misrepre
sented in the chief council of the nation foI
wears to come by man who possesses moi
q single title to the position of Senator ex
cept q duly receipted bill of sale showing
how he bought the place and what he pait
for it! In one sense, Mr.. Barnum may De
said to have got cheap bargain; but OF
the other hand, he has paid very hlgf
price.
As to the members of the Legislature
whose shame is to have been party T.
this monstrous outrage upon decency. tnel
may be sure that their State and the coun
try will hold them in just contempt as IN
champion puppets Of the century.-He'
York Nail.