Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-03-30

. - - ~ ASSA - VAO A(AG wv va
II Senators Conkling, Cameron and
Logan, acting as agents Ut the Republic
can party, had approached Senator Ma
hone in open Senate, and bargained
with him for his vote and bis pledge to
transfer his faction in Virginia 10 the
Republican party; and il, in conclusion
OF the bargain, Senator Cameron had
drawn his check for 800, 600 payable to
the order Of William Mahoue, the coun-
try would have taken the trouble to get
excited, and we suspect that all the
Senators openly concerned IN the trade
would have been promptly expelled by
"a Constitutional majority"
But If such bargain had been thus
openly made, and thus brazenly faunt-
ed 10 the face of the Senate aud people
Of the United States, if all the proprie-
ties of the place and the occasion had
been thus insolently outraged. if deem
CT had been discarded, honor ignored
and undsguised corruption boldly set up
az lift were the rule and pattern Of Sena-
lorial conduc.-if all this had been
done, and the open purchase Of = Sem
ator Effected with as much indifference
to public opinion as if the thing brought
had been a red herring or a pound Of
mutton chops, the transaction would
have been identical ia its moral ele"
ments with what has actually happen
cd.
Or, if differing at all IN its moral as
pects, the public purchase Of the Sens-
or and payment for him in cash would
have been less repreheusible Than the
vile scheme that was adopted. For the
criminal who does his work openly and
in daylight is less dangerous public
enemy than the midnight marauder.
And the man who corrupts a public
oficial with his own money is less dis
honest than the scoundrel who uses
the honors and emOluments Of the pub
lie service as a fund wherewith to brlbs
officials 10 betray their trust.
1t is the intention Of this journal "
put this lOathsome thing before the
country in its true colOrs, nothing ex.
tenuaung not setting down aught IL
malice. 1t is not with the eyes OF a
partisan that We view it. 1t Is OF COM
comparatively little moment that the
Democratic party is IN minority in the
Senate. Upon the whole we are rather
uleased than other wise that the De-
aocracy are freed from responsibility
and put in position to make capital
out of the mistakes or sins OF the oppo-
sitlOn.
But we cannot be Indifferent to the
damniug disgrace which this unexam-
pled corruption has brouyht on the Sen
ate aud the country. For the first time
in our history a "Cousti uional major
lt," has been secured by gross, vulgar
bargain and sale. For the first time III
10 our history the UMted States Senate
has become the theatre Of, and Sena'
tors have become the actors IN drama
that can only be atl! described by this
one word-infamOus.
Where is the Traditional dignity OF the
Seuate-a Senate controlled by the
terms Of q vile trade, that an amatuer
base ball club would blush to be st'-
pected Of?
Who, hereafter, can cherish an
ambition to be chosen to a seat IN the
American Senate--a Senate "readjus-
ted" by as vulgar a sample of sickenine
corruption as was was ever attempted
by the lowest ward politicians in the
slums of New York, Philadelphia, or
New Orleans Wash. Post.