Mexico weekly ledger., 1881-06-30
REPUBLICAN CORRUPTION.

hEHC bLlCAN PIlOS.
Evidences are constantly accumu-
lating that bribery and corruption
are the main factors of Republican
party management. 10 what other
causes can the protracted sessions of
the National Senate be ascribed? To
what else are the hububs at Albany
and Washington owing but to the
high crimes of offering and receiving
pay for political influence and sup
port? Does anyone, acquainted with
existing divisions in the Republican
party, think. that either branch of it
could have maintained q successful
presidential campaign without prom
Use of substantial reward to tue other?
If Grant had been nominated, could
he have beaten Hancock without re-
sorting to means similar to those
employed by Garfield to secure the
publican party who opposed himf
Could anything short of pledges of
personal and political preferment have
overcome their repugnance to stall
wartism and n third term? Possibly,
Grant might have been truer to
phighted tryst than Garfield, and
thus exposure might have been avoid
ed. But would that have purified
party politics, or in any way have
been of public benefit? Is it not
better that bribery and corruption
have been disclosed and the knowl-
edge of them thoroughly promulgat-
cd: On this account, therefore, it is
to be hoped that the existing conten-
lions at Albany and Washington will
be continued until every improper
proposal and agreement shall be
brought to light. He who exchanges
his influence OF vote for a position,
or contract for himself or friend, is
as guilty as he who trades them off
for cash. Appointments and awards
may not pass from hand to hand as
currently as greenbacks, and yet they
can be negotiated and transferred as
easily as are United States bonds and
other national and state securities ;
and, if such transactions are not de-
tected, exposed and punished, polit-
cal honesty will bid this country o
perpetual adieu. Both Grant and
Garfield may now regret having al
lowed themselves to be mixed up in
this inevitable and memorable vortex
of Republican party politics. To
have permitted anything of that sort
was certainly a great mistake on the
part Of both, from which elimination
and recrinination can relieve neither.
1t would have been better for the
reputation of both, If each had de-
cldedly refused connection with q
condition Of party degradation, that
man can NEEDLE with without de-
Element and which is nothing more
than a vulgar and dishonorable strug-
pie for party spoils with opportunity
for public plumber.
The charges brought by Conkling
against the President are not for pros
titution of constitutional privilege,
but for the non-fulillment of PROM
iscs, that ought never to have been
made, and which ought to be and are
as disgraceful to those that we're
by hope of benefit as to those
that disappointed expectation. They
are quite as disgusting, too, as those
have been made to postal and
treasury officials, and even to mem
beis of the New York Legislature,
one of whom a U. S. Marshalship
vas offered as inducement to desert
and cast his vote for al
half. breed" Senator. If the people
,f this country do not approve OF
.uch barterings and tradings, those
hat have been engaged in them will