New-York tribune., 1876-03-27
THE ALABAMA CASE.

THE ALABAMA CASE.
An English paper recently ventured the sug-
gestion that what the American Republic most
needs in these days of bribery and corruption
is the introduction of gentlemen into politics.
Some of the statesmen of the Administration
party i'm Washington seem to be so strongly
of this opinion that when they once get good
grip of q gentleman they are not to be induced
to let CO. 1t is not always easy to define a
gentleman at the capital. Abraham Lincoln
was not one, in the vocabulary of society, but
Belknap led the tan. Hawkins Taylor, lobby
ist who was examined before Mr.. ely
mer's committee the other day, testified
that he considered himself plebeian, but that
Judge Perry f.. BrOcchus," who got $50 Tor
securing the appointment of post-trader, was
"a very hgh-toned Southern gentleman"
There can be no question about the position OF
the Hon. Mr. Shepherd, or of ex-senator Will
liam Stewart, familiarly known as Sage-Brllsl-
Bill, because they have built two of the most
expensive houses in Washington; but If Horace
Greeley had been in the habit OF visiting the
seat of government, he would probably have
been thought too low person for the first
circles.
But there is Spencer. If he is not a gentle
man. we should like to know what makes one.
He has long been on terms Of intimacy ut
Court. He has had entire control of the poll
ties of his adopted State. He has served his
country as a soldier and afterward sutler.
He has been register in bankruptcy. and
nearly bankrupted the Mobile post-oilce by
paving his election expenses out of the till.
He knows more ways of getting into the Sen
ate without the preliminary of being elected
than any other man alive. lie has performed
the unparalleled feat of riding two Leglsla-
lures at the same time, and cheating both or
them He has rivaled the clectiOnecrng expe-
dent of Tony Weller, who tipped coach
load of voters into canal for during his
canvass in Alabama he, or his agents for him,
inveigled an obstinate legislator into
gambling saloon and treated HIM with
dragged liquor until he nearly lost his life.
He has got up Ku-klux Outragcs, and cstab-
lshed reign of terror with nothing better to
go upon than bullct-holc in n dcputy's hat,
made by the deputy himself. He has had the
army at his disposal, and the Treasury detect
ives, and the Special Service force OF the
Post-O Office, and he has made gaugcrs and rev
enuc collectors out of political scallawags as
profuscly as Soulouque created dukes and mar
ouises and princes Of the blood ont of the tat
tordemaions Of Hayt. Besides, he has been
opposed to jeff Davis and all unropcntant
rebels, and has steadily pointed with pride to
the record of the Republican party and tho
"wise and patriotic administration of Prcsi-
dent Grant.
The Senate knows the value Of such gen
teman too well to let him go. Our corre-
,pondent in Washington shows pretty clearly
This morning, what has been more than sus-
pected for the past week, that Senator Nor
toms Committee, which is now listening to
the complaint of the State Of Alabama in
regard to Spencer, il fully alive To the I'M
portancc Of keeping him in the place he has
30 long adorned. A great many of the wit
nrsses brought from Alabama 10 convict HIM
of bribery and other varieties of crime have
been sent away unhcaId. The ease is grad
ually getting narrowed down to mere techni-
calitics by the exclusion of its most important
parts 4; and in "a snort time wc may expect to
hear that Mr.. Spencer has been completely
vindcaicd. Far he it from us to object. The
Senate is Judge Of good company, and If 1t
il pleased with the society and example OF
Mr. Spencer, by all means let it stick to him.
Alabama may complain but it was settled
long ago that Southern States have no rights
which the Grant faction is bound to respect.
The Republican par at the North may com
nlaip but that is an affair which concerns
none SO much rs the White House clique them
solves