Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-26
The Republican PARTY and the Inves iSa-
ton Of Senotor Iugalls.


Topeka Kansas Capital .Erpl
To-day commences the investigation
of the election of John j. Ingalls, as SEN
ator OF the United States from Kansas.
Whatever the result, innocent or guilty,
the republican party must bear the re-
sponsibility. The party as well aS the
people wants fair and impartial trial.
The public interest in this trial Is not
for MIR INGALLS, as an individual, but Mr..
INGALLS, as "A representative of our state
and its poople i'm the most exalted posi-
ton TO which a citizen can be called. 1t
is not. as the case stands to-day, one of
party only. and vet the republican party
will be held to account by the OPPOSE
ton for the trial of one OF her leaders
charged with bribery. 1t will be use
less To plead i'm exclamation that the
pcople are no better than the mercantile
members they sent as representatives,
or that members of the legislature We're
purchaSabc or they would not have
been bought. or that many offered To
sell votes which We're not purchased
all this is special pleading without direct
bearing on this case. And neither will
il be of avail i'm making public senu-
ment To say that money was used To
defeat Mr.. IngallS-and We believe 1t
waS-or that the men who have follow
ell up this investigation and demanded
the action Of the United States senate
are not men Of good character indivIdr-
ally or politically. Whether the mo-
tives of the prosecution be good or bad,
whether they have been disappointed in
politics. whether they are now seeking
revenge for real or fnancicd wrongs,
are not questions which willcome before
the senators who are 10 hear this case.
The plain and distinct question before
the committee and before the people OF
Kansas is: Did Senator John j. Ingalls,
purchase, personally or through his au-
thOriZed agents, votes, by which his
election was secured? The republican
party of Kansas to-day, as 1t has in the
past, fearlessiy places one OF ITS
leaders before the bar-if guilty
he goes down-if innocent the
people of Kansas will accord
him all the honor of an unjuStly perse-
cuted man. No intelligent republican
will he found to assume the position
that it is right for the party to assist in
corrupt elections, or for the sake OF haT-
monv to cover up charges against lead
ers Of the party. 1t is not enough to say
that the legislative committee which in
veStigated the senatorial election made
the present investigation unnecessary.
That investigation last winter was hur-
ried, superficial and unsatisfactory to
the committee itself, to the legislature,
and to the people. The committee had
not the time nor the power to make the
investigation thorough and impartial.
The present committee comes clothed
with the authority, has the time and
the ability to DO the case justice. Re
moved from personal and political inter
ests width NAV affect the judgement
and action Ola legislative committee, We
may expect to see the questions inyolv-
ed settled forever.
The eyes Of nearly million OF citizens
which our bright, vigorous young state
contains to-day, turn towards the capt.
tai to watch this trial, and II we could
hear the sentiment that kansans have
upon this subject to-day it would be:
"Iet the trial be fair and impartial and
the verdict in accord with the facts.
Let the people in the state and out OF
the state know that Kansas has passed
that point in her history where the
highest positions OF honor and trust can
be sold to the highest bidder