Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-02-18

Il -
the order II fegafd to investigation Of alIess,
bribery.
The order was taken up and Mr.. HAs,
Eil.wofth called for the previous oues1,ss
and the House seconded the call, which -.
memberg Ave minutes each in which to spssr
Mr.. PERRr If Camden: Mr.. Speaker a.
nae been objccted on the floor of this H.
that a great reason why the Clark and Cat
man bribery cases should not be taken n, i.
because the said Clark and Cushman are =.
now members Of this House. Was ever n
Tense weaker than that! Besides being -.
il il a gross injustice to the gentlemen. Cha
and Cushman. Let us look into the case 80
see whether or not these gentlemen have /.
at the time of the alleged bribery char,s.
had any rights which this House is bound :
respect.
The said James W. Clark Of Noblehor.
and Alfred Cushman Of Sherman. each ~
ceived notification Of their election AMI
summons under the broad seal of the St,,.
for them to take their seats. So far a H.
wese individually concerned they were in a.
~ bound to come here and take their se.,.
Their right to seats in this House was mr.
ma facie. Whether they were to hold ther
against contestants was an after question
Their first duty was plain. and in the exer;,.
of that dutv they were entitled to the nro,ao
ton and respect Of all honorable men II
then it is admitted that they were entitled !.
the respect of all honorable men, it follor.
that any person who would, or did attemrs
to hinder them, is unworthy of rcspest
whether of high or low degree, and the az
iect of this investigation is to find OUT n.
truth in the matter. Perhaps some, however
will not admit that Clark and Cnshman vers
doing right when they took their seats. AMI Z
so. we hope they will not shield themselvss
under a new code of morals. which teacbe,
that it is not wrong to bride a man "a
do right.
The gentlemen, Clark and Cushman, have
in this hall of Representatives, in the prs.
ence of many witnesses. taken their solemn
oaths tharthey were approached by persons
who offered them brides if they would mai
take their seats in this House.
The investigation proceeded for several
DAYS, and the testimony was taken down hr
a shorthand reporter, and it has been pub
lishel to a certain extent and sent broadcss
over the country. Ii may be objected ta.
the Legislature which carried on the invest
gation was illegal. but legal or otherwise, /,
was the only Legislature then existing in The
State, and as such occupied the State House.
The testimony taken was either true Or
false. and it is due both sides of this Houw
to know which. 1t true, as n matter Of hon.
or, the majority of this House should knov
it. because their leaders have already sgni
fed their wish to punish any one guilty Of
such a crime rs is charged by Clark and
Cushman.
If false. the minority should also know il,
and that too as a matter of honor. because
the minority of this House. which also rep.
rescnts the majority of the whole number ct
votes thrown in the State on the Governor
vote, does not want to be led into an error
any more than does the majority. The ma.
jority of the House should be slow to deny
the minority the honor of having an invest.
cation, because the testimony of Clark impi.
Gated our Senator in Congress, and rs Ne i
prominently mentioned as Il candidate for the
Presidency, it is plain to see that none Of the
minority of this House could feel to vote for
him, however they might admire the princf
pies he represented, with the prejudice in
their minds against his character created BY
the testimony of Clark. which has not been
contradicted.
Yet, we have seen, as gentleman in this
House has remarked, what men dare d.,
knowing that they are right. but is It NOT
well for them to pause, before we have
to see what men will dare do, when 1t is na
as certain in their own minds that they are
right or when there is a possibility that the
may be wrong? Or, in other words, will the
majority of this House deem it good policy
to stifie an investigation which has proceeded
already far enough to implicate the honcra-
Bile Senator, III the minds of majority Of
the people of the State of Maine, as being
party to dishonorable transaction.
You cannot expect, Mr.. Speaker. that any
member of this House. who has heard The
testimony thus far, in the Clark bribery case,
can go back to his home and tell his people
that the honorable Senator was not concerned
in the charges.
The gentleman from Portland (Mr Stroui
in an eloquent manner. has tried to impress
upon this House the necessity of ATTENDING
to the business of the session and leaving
matters of political nature for an after con-
sideration. There is a sophistry in such u
argument that might blind the simple. but
the gentleman from Portland. and ever
other gentleman on the floor of this Houa
knows well that all government and all law
which most materially effect the welfare Of
people or nation are the outgrowth Of part!
There is truth in the scripture: "By then
fruits We shall know them,' and the best lava
which are the result of parties with connia
ing IDEAS and principles, illustrate the truM
of it. Why the people so much demand N
investigation into the bribery eases Of clan
and Cushman is that they may know that fh
fountain heats of our Government are pur
Too long has been the delay, and now eeE
tlemen gre you willing to leave the peoPea
this State in the midst Of grave douotm
regard to the bribery charges. which II uw
and persisted in, will undermine the foundf
ton of our Cover nment. Ii so, ! warn Wv
OF the consequence.
Mr.. GusHEE Of Appleton IL VI"
to say word in defence of this ofdei
In supposed in the presenting
that l was acting in accordance with the wv
Of every gentleman of the minority ana
the majority party of this House. II u W.
derstOod that grave charges have been ma@
which affect not only these gentlemen men
toned in the order. but which affect US IS ss
islators, which affects the good name Of VIC
State. 1t is a duty which we owe onrselsu
and the people who sent us here to see ~
these charges are controy ertcd and If possio'1'
refuted. The regulations of these gentiems..
are at stake. The reputation Of the Stale .
regards the purity Of its citizens and te1'
management Of political affairs is at staAa
We cannot afford to allow this opportunity y
investigate to go by. We should have y.
and free statement Of the facts in rega.yw
1t. These gentlemen were acting as leesg
tors at the time thny wore aDDrOlched y