The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-04-29
rights OF private property, whose logical
consequences might involve social revolu-
The Credit Mobilier Statesmen, Dead
and Living.

The Credit Mobilier statesmen, Dead
and Living.
II is natural that the son Of CAKES AMEs
should seek to remove from tho journal OF
tho House Of Representatives the resolution
censurlng Mr.. AMEs for his dealings with
members OF Congress In Credit Mobilier
stock. This effort Of fllial devotion provokes
no harsh criticism. On the contrary 1t In
yites sympathy, 10 certain degree and with
certain reservations.
Ten years have passed since that record
was made. But the subject has been kept
before the public eye since 1873, both by the
prominence attained by JAMES A. GARFIELD
rs Republican leader and by the constant
intrusion Of SCHUYLER CoLFAx as pro-
fessed teacher Of morals.
The original publication Of the facts In
this matter by THE SUN in the fall Of 1879
created profound sensation throughout the
country The incriminated members OF Con-
gross rushed into print with emphatic deni-
ais Of their completely In the corruption. Dir.
BLAINE was then Speaker. He himself had
been under fire on different charges OF job
berry. When Congress met in December Mr..
BLAINE left the chair to move an investiga-
ton, as his name appeared In the black list.
A committee OF the following members was
appointed: LUKE p. POLAND, Chairman;
N. p. BANKS, GEORGE W. MoCRARY, w. L.
NIBLAcK, and WILLIAM NJ. MERRICK-thrce
Republicans and two Democrats. Mr.. MER-
RICK was the only one Of the five who ex-
hibtcd the least desire to mako the inquiry
an investigation In earnest
or the fifteen members OF Congress who
figured in this great scandal, JAMES BROOKS
was the only Democrat. Tho remaining
fourteen were all conspicuous Republicans.
There were others whose names were not re-
corded in AMEss diary, or not introduced In
the testimony, who had received brides In
the form OF one-thousand-dollar bills In en-
velopes. These have escaped Justice and
Judgment. Some Of hem are still promi-
nent in Congress.
To save the party from disgrace. MIR. Po-
LAND reported a resolution for the expulsion
Of CAKES AMEs and OF JAMES BROOKS, 30 as
to divide the shame between the Republicans
and the Democrats. These two were un-
doubtedly guilty, but the members who
escaped were guilty in far greater degree.
At that time BROOKS was rapidly sinking
under an incurable disease. AMEs was heart
broken by the charges which had wounded
his pride and blackened his reputation. A
false education and the lack OF moral percep-
tions made him regard these transactions In
the light Of legitimate business. All these cor
ruptionists had trusted him implicitly, with
out scrap Of paper to prove their interest.
He was believed to DO very rich, and In his
diaries, side by side with the records Of bust
ness dealings OF immense magnitude, are
found such entries as this: Zone pair shoe
strings, five cents"
There never was time when tho expulsion
resolution could have passed the House. Mr..
POLAND never expected and never intended
1t to pass AMEs was master OF too many
secrets for Republican House to put upon
him that browning disgrace. MIR. BLAINE,
with prudent regard for mis- own prospects,
manipulated tho change from expulsion to
censure. When the day came to vote the
House was thronged in every part. Rail-
road Presidents and directors swarmed on
the floor. As the Speaker pronounced the
sentence OF the House, tears rolled down tho
checks OF CAKES AMEs and BROOKS tot
tered. In few short months. by strange
coincidence, both were in the grave.
SCHUYLER COLFAx; JAMES F. WILSON and
W. b. ALLISON, Senators from Iowa; H. L.
DAWES, Senator from Massachusetts,; G. w.
ScOFIELD, Judge OF the Court OF Claims;
J.W PATTERSON of New Hampshire, WILLIAM
d. KELLEY, Chairman Of the Committee on
Ways and Means; JOHN A. LOGAN, Senator
from Illinois, and JOHN A. BINGHAM. United
States Minister to Japan were all involved
in this foul corruption. They still survive
and flourish Us leading and trusted Republic
cans. HENRY WILSON and JAMES A. GAR
FIELD are with the dead.
1t is proper to say that Mr.. BINGHAM did
not conceal his interest in the Credit Nobilier,
and that Mr.. LOGAN soon returned the money
he received from AMEs. The other cases are
OF record, and the two worst OF all are those
OF GARFIELD and CoLFAX.
The son OF CAKES AMEs has seen the Re-
publican party make GARFIELD President.
He sees others Of the Credit Moblier states
men holding the highest positions the Re-
publican party In their States can confer, and
some Of them boldly aspiring to the Presi-
dency. Is it surprising, then, that he should
seek to wipe out stain ON tho name OF his
father, who was an honester man than any OF
those whom he bribed?