Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-04-06
fino shade or Impua en- ce.

We have never failed to derive
intense amusement from the superb
cheek exhibited occasionally by
Republican orators in and out OF
Congress. Mr.. Eugene Hale afforded
the latest example of this impu-
dence in his remarks in the House
OF Representatives day before yes
terday on the removal of Door,
keeper Polk. The Democratic
House detected Mr.. Polk in illegal
practices and promptly dismissed
him. Presto Mr.. Hale rises in his
seat and proclaims that the Demo-
cratic party is unfit to administer
any department of the govern
ment. The factis that Folks trans
gressions, as compared with the
staple article of Republican delin-
quency, were venialin the extreme.
It would take thousand Folks to
mako up the sum total of the Gus
tom House frauds Of the Lent
Murphy regime in New York, or Of
Robson or of Belknap. 1t is not
alleged that Polk embezzled or
stole anything. His offence was
that of exceeding his authority in
the way good natured, yielding
men of any party are liable to do it
at any time. His punishment was
swift and exemplary. His crime
was aggravated neither by perjury
nor larceny. There was in his Of
fence none of the addition, divis.
ion and silence" recommended by
VIM. H. Kemble, of the Penhsyl-
vania Republican ring, to his cor.
rupt confederates in Washington.
There was nothing of the Credit
Mobilier turpitude which has re.
tired SO many Republican pseudo
statesmen to private life. Mr.. Polk,
unlike Schuyler Colfax, did not
take bride for his influence in
bringing about railway legislation
in Congress, and then swear that
he had not received the bride, and
then have his perjury made mani
fest by the production Of q check and
the memorandum book in which
Cakes Ames jotted down his Union
Pacific transactions. All this was
done by Colfax while he filled the
exalted Office of Vice Presi-
dent. Unlike Belknap, Polk had no
handsome wife who Haunted about
in Washington society on the
strength of dividends derived from
sharing the corrupt gains of post
traders. In every respect, in COM
parison with the unbridled pecu-
lations of Republican off,
Gals, Mr.. Folks transgresslons
were bagatelles, although his pun
ishment has been condign and
crushing. Republicans who feel
disposed to inveigh against an oc-
casional Democrat who forgets his
duty should remember that they
are but men, and that all of them
have not the moral stamina needed
to protect them from the contagion
OF official roguery which has been
. ndemic in Washington, for the
past fifteen or sixteen years, in the
highest posts of the government.
Belknap was not the only Secretary
of War who WAS obliged to retire
from Office on account of the faint
of corruption. Old Simon Cam
eron, of Lincoln's Cabinet, preceded
him. In view of the melancholy
panorama of Credit Mobilier, Post
Trader, Suttler, Quartermaster,
Navy Yard, Custom House and
Whiskey Ring rogueries, which
have flashed in the eyes of the peo-
pie of the United States, with
rotten phosphorescence, during the
past fifteen or sixteen years, Re-
publican Congressman would do
well not to arouse the public atten-
ton to contrast which is entirely
and conspicuously in favor of the
Democracy.