The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-08-13
PARLIAMENTARY BRIBERY.
Some Very Serious Charges that Have
Been Made Against the Great
Liberal Leader.


Been Made Against the Great
Liberal Leader.
Mr. Edmund Yates does not seem to
have been made cautious by his impris-
onment for libel. but says in The Lon
don World: Misgiving might well be
aroused by recent admissions with re-
gard to the application of secret service
money. and it is now indisputably clear
that ministers have at their disposal
considerable sums for which they need
render no exact account, and which
might easily be misapplied. 1t may be
illegal to purchase votes, but the uses
of loose cash remain incontroyertiblc,
and the old doctrine that every man has
his price still holds, provided he is not
paid too openly over the counter, and q
decorous mystery surrounds the trans
action. However humiliating the con-
fession, the fact remains that men are
governed largely by interest or fear.
The truth OF this cynical Napoleonic
dictum is still realized, and will proba-
bly, be found, when all secrets are re-
vealed, to have had enormous weight
with the strange parsonage, who, for
some time past, has had the destinies
of the nation in his hand. We must
wait, perhaps, for the revelations of the
diarists, for the still hidden gossip of
some future Croker or Greville, for ac-
curate and authentic information of the
extraordinary intrigues which have re-
Gently been, and are no doubt still, in
progress. But enough has leaked out
of their nature and scope to arouse the
strongest apprehension and disgust.
1t is nearly certain that, for any compar-
| ison with the present state of affairs
we must travel back to Walpole's worst
days, when a really honest statesman
had recourse to the most corrupt meth
! DDS to perpetuate policy which was at
least intended for the national good.
1t must be left to the future historian
to analyze Mr. Gladstone's motives, to
estimate and appraise his intentions, but
that his methods at this moment approx
innate dangerously to WalpoIe's is
abundantly plain to the well informed.
The enormous pressure which has been
brought to bear upon the dissentient
members of the liberal party has been
of an almost unprecedented character.
They terrorism of the caucus, the tyr
amy of wire-pullers, the threats o
estrangcd constituencies, these have
have been widely exercised and avowcd
What is less known are the urgent ant
varied appeals, the specious promises
the offers. open and insidious, whicl
have been made to all. Something
however, has crcpt out; for it is Mr.
Gladstone misfortune to be served a
this juncture by immature ministerial
whips, whose processes have lackct
the diplomatic astuteness of older par
liamentary hands. 1t is no secret
therefore. that no kind of cajolery ha
been left untried; menace and intimida
ton have been freely used, the loss Q
seats, the wrath of constituencies, th
dread of political extinction; supplica
ton also, quite pitiful entreaty, TO say
the party and spare the county iron
the horrors of new dissolution. O.
the latter point much eloquence ha
been freely expended, for, apar
from the doubts which surround tn
probable results of an appeal to tn
constituencies, there are the undoubte
facts of general impecuiosty and
widespread disinclination to face tn
expense of another electoral campaign
These efforts are little reprehensible
even laudable, compared with other
that have unquestionably been put j
practice. The action taken, the ovel
lures made, have been in many case
scandalous and unbecoming. Ever
kind of bribe and temptation has bee
tried. Direct and sordid appeals to il
dividual stupidity may have bee
avoided, but place and power, wit
their accompanying advantages of il
come and social prestige, have bee
held up as bats to lure the still shy SUI
porter. Commissioncrship coloni
governments, and foreign mission
were to be had for the asking. Homo
of most dazzling description ar
: peerages were quite cheap in the ma
Il ket, and baronetagcs almost n dru
AS for the lesser dignitaries
hooks. orders, ribbons, stars-a perfe
harvest of them was within reach
any who chose, at price, to gather Il
crop. How far these ignoble tacti
= have prevailed the public will kno
by the division which is taking plac
Whether or not they suffice to secu
MIR. Gladstone's retreat the stronge
and most unqualified protest must
recorded against them. They w
surely be remembered in future yea
to the eternal disgrace of the gre
statesman who stopped to employ the1
they will cover with Immediate rdicr
, and confusion all those who have be
beguled into accepting his humiiati>
gifts. A peeragc OF the homc-rt
epoch will be less honorable create
than financial barony purchased fre
some needy continental prince. The
will be no honor-quite the reverse
!. in the reward and dignities acquir
= in such questionable political servi'
Those who are called at this crisis
any great charge at home or abro
will be weighted by the consciousn'
that their mandate and credentials ha
issued from an impure and dishon'
able source. The surrender of priv:
judgment on such grounds will pre-
an indelible stigma; the rccreants "
have parted with their birthright, th
:, independence, for 4 mess of pottai
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