Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-02-10

successful purchaser of senatorships,
confessing their compelled humiliation.
Others see how Presidents and Cabi-
nets yield TO these influences, aud
sadly admit that nothing else is to be
expected from strangers when the peo-
pie of Pennsylvania sell out their own
birthright without hesitation 10 inie.
riors. Occasionally there is revolt,
but it is always feeble, and temporary
because there are always newspaper -
ready to assail independent thought,
even while they admit the justice of
the example The result is that in
dependence is rare because it is risky,
and that reckless tyranny becomes
more defiant in the face of Il frightened
people. Hence public opinion rs such
is crushed or siIenced, and the trans
gressor not only goes free, but for
given; not only forgiven, but hon
orcd.
1t is worth rccollecting that before
this purchasing business began III
Pennsylvania, we had some very cred
table senators in Congress, George
NJ. Dallas, William findlay, Robert
Morris, George Logan, Albert Gala.
tin, Abncr Laycock, Walter Lowric,
William wilkins, and James Buchnn-
an. Since the Senate has become the
preserve of a family IN Pennsylvania,
other States have been careful to send
their best intellccts to that branch of
Congress. In Pennsylvania the late
choice of senators has been decided in
certain way; but Illinois had sent
Douglas and Trumbull New York,
Dickinson and Herman New Jersey,
Frelinghuy-cn and Stockton Della.
ware, Bayard Maryland, Revcrdy
johnson Massachusetts, Wilson and
Sumner; Indiana, Morton and Hen.
bricks. In all the gigantic struggle,
during and since the war, Pcnnsylva.
MA has been silent and unknown, cx-
ccpt where senators like Bigler, Buck
alcw, Cowau, Wallace and Wilmoi
were elected by uupurchased legis!a.
turcs, Every county can point to its
statesmen and orators Of both parties (;
its scholars aud writers its men of
science and culture among Republi.
cans and Democrats. The first are
rarely called forth, while Bigler,
Buckalew, aud Wallace are chiefly re-
mcmbcred TO prove what the Demo
crats could do, if the majority favored
them n often as the other side. The
Republicans are a, truly di-frauchi-cd
A. it they lived in China, so far n the
United N;atc- Senator j. concerned.
Il i TO the further shame Of Penn.
,ylyauia tha, the John Welsh Corrup-
ton Fund originated in this State
Like the bribery Of the legislature. it
grew from the same seed. The two
were equally infamous, aud will long
be remembered a. warnings In Eng.
land both examples would have been
/ terribly avenged The new Laws there
has made such offences crimes n We
realize almost every day member Of
Parliament j. indicted for bribery. 1t
il n word and blow. One proof ends
the case. Confession follows the fact
of purchase, and the Judge acts like
flash. Here we have our laws too.
But they are dead They are down in
statute.books, but they are scorned hy
our servants. Our judges do not see
them. Our legislatures turn away
from them. Our press ignores them.
In England, where money is great
power, law is greater and even there,
when the ari,tocracy holds the House
of Lords, young ambition may force
iis way into the Commons, in defiance
Of the god Pluius, and push the mil.
lionaire out Of his purchased cushions.