Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-06-11

Bradley we should be in better position
to form Judgment as to the probabilities
in the case. Of course if Bradley were
an unprincipled rascal nothing would be
easier than for him to fabricate such
story. His production of the money is a
mere piece of sensationalism. 1t is not
evidence, since there is absolutely no proof
beyond his mere assertion that he received
it from Sessions. The fact that he went
to Speaker Sharpe and deposited a sum
with him, telling him that it had been
given him as bride, is equally destitute
of eyidential value. If a conspiracy had
been got up this is just the kind of cum
ming way it would have been arranged, in
fact, and when we take into consideration
the danger which must have been obvious
to any man in the position of Senator
Sessions, who should undertake bribery of
members of the Conkling faction, it ap.
pears still less probable that he walked
with his eyes open into such trap.
It has been evident to the public from
the first that Conkling had great difficulty
in keeping his men together. Everything
has been against him. The loss of patron
age and power, the general consensus of
public opinion, the judgment even of his
former political friends, have rendered hi.
position one of great and increasing risk
and uncertainty. Under the circum-
stances, then, nothing could be less likely
than that his opponents, who understand
thoroughly that Time is fighting on their
side. should of a sudden become desperate,
and by wild and undisguised outburst of
bribery should literally put themselves I'M
der the feet of their adversaries. On the
other hand, it must be recognized that all
the desperation has been throughout on
the side of Conkling. His. friends were
forlorn hope. They had failed in all their
endeavors to control the situation. They
had no prospect before them but grim
and almost aimless holding out. 1t would
have been quite in accord with their con.
dition for them, or some of them, to have
recourse to hazardous measures, and they
may have thought that since bribery could
not, if boldly alleged, be clearly disproved,
by adopting such method they would
create reaction in their favor.
Up to the present time, and with the in
formation before us, it is therefore perfect
| ly safe to say that appearances are not such
as to justify hasty acceptance of the
truth of Bradley's statement. The recep-
ton and the determination of the inquiry,
will of necessity turn mainly upon the
characters of the accused and the accuser.
II they are both men of recognized probity
heretofore it will of course be almost i'm.
possible to decide between them. If one
of them is known as an honorable man and
the other has bad reputation, the former
will naturally be believed, and the latter
| be discredited. But these charges of
bribery are in many respects like charges
of rape: most difficult to defend and dis
prove, because of the inevitable absence of
witnesses. One man says he was bribed.
Another denies that he gave bride. How
are the judges to determine which is
| lying? In this case the motives for
Justification may be said to be equally
strong on both sides. 1t is a fierce
fight of factions which has produced this
situation, and either would willingly ruin
the other by hook or by crook. When all
the testimony is in it will still be for the
public to Judge as to where the truth lies,
for no incontrovertible proof can possibly
be adduced by either party. The view
taken on the spot will presumably be the
right one, however, and it will be seen by
the effect on the Senatorial balloting
| whether those who have the best opportuni.
ties for acquiring trustworthy information
believe that Sessions bribed Bradley, or
believe that Bradley fabricated the whole
story in the interest of Conkling stock.
Thus far the credibility of the facts is
extremely doubtful, and it remains to be
seen whether this view will require to be
changed when the case is completed.