Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-03-02

"A OISODA sssssss VA N LtOh ~ ava.
Pstssicai Rcsstbustsn Az Penn
syivssis.
For the first time in twenty
years IL looks as II the Democrats
are about to carry Pennsylvania.
The political scandals Of the Cam
sron ring have reached point as
high ~ the excuses OF Belshazzar,
and the handwriting lie on the
wall, and that in very legible
characters. In ell the infamous
things which have happened in
our later politics the turning OF
VIM. III, Kemble from prison
deors was probably the most dis
graceful
The Philadelphia Press some
time ego caught the Attorney
General of Pennsylvania and in
duced him to talk about the pardon
of William III. Kemble, the noto-
rieus author of Addition, Division
and Silence, convicted in 1850 of
bribipg members of the Legisla.
ture. We believe this is the first
time that any body connected with
that infamous business has ven.
tured to defend it. The rescued
convicts, ths Pardon Board, the
Governor, the members Of the
ring, ard others who were forced
to take any part in the transac-
tion, have been content to bear
their ignomy In silence. And it
was better SO. The pardons were
forced from those who had the
power of granting them. Ksmble
and his associates had the means
In their hands of running those
who had employed them, as we'll
as those who had aided and assist
ed them, in the gigantic schems Of
robbery, and were to share one
way and another ia the proceeds.
Such an exposure would have de-
stroyed the Ring, and would have
opened the prison gates to some
distinguished men who had been
looking In any direction but that.
To save them Kemble obligingly
pleaded guilty, and then demand
ed his pardon. They could not re-
fuse it. but they could not defend
1t; and from that day to this they
have prudently refrsined from any
attempt ct making q defence.
Attorney General Palmer broke
through the rule followed by his
fellows in this iniquity, and stuna
by Wolfe's vigorous assaults, es.
says q desperate apology. He adj
mits that the accused were guilty
that their crime was q peculiarly
base one; that the sentence of the
court was Just; and that the public
mind had correctly apprehendet
oil the facts in the case. But b,
says that part of the sentence wal
unauthorized by law. Kembl,
might have been legally sent t.
the common Jail, but not Il
the penitentiary. Therefore to,
Governor and Board Of PaIdonl
turned him loose altogether.
But the Atterney-General un'
doubtedly knew then, and knows
now, that il any part of the SEN
tence was illegal, Kemble had hii
remedy by proper proceeding in
the court where he was fairly tried
and convicted, and in the Supreme
Court Of the State. But be chose
not to resort to either of these tri.
bunals. He preferred the Pardon
Board, where his power was ire.
sistible, by reason of his store o!
information, and where everything
had been duly arranged before.
hand. The members responded to
his demand like the slaves that
they were, violated every rule OF
proceeding established for their
own government, and fastened to
do irregularly and illegally a thing
which they well knew ought not
to be done at all, and would leave
an indelibIe stain upon the charao.
ter of every man engaged. They
dared not refuse.
Mr.. Palmer's excuse is very
lame. 1t only aggrsvates the
original offence. He has made q
serious mistake in opening his
mouth at all. The policy of silence
was far the better one. Wolfe, the
Independent, carried away the
glory Of defeating the Riot bill and
of convicting the corruptionists.
The shame Of obstructing legal jus.
tice, and outraging the public
opinion Of much-swindled and
long, abused State, belongs to Gov.
Hoyt and the Pardon Board. The
Republican masses resolutely de-
Cline to be wheedled into o con-
donation of such unparalleled job.
berry and corruption. They recall
the fact that, whenA Kemble was
arraigned in court for bribery, he
made q bet OF large sum that he
would never undergo the indignity
Of having his whiskers shaved off,
an incident of immurement ia the