The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-08

Two Democratic members were SEN
tenced to States Prison at indianapolis on
Friday for forging returns, in order TO Sc
cure Democratic Legislature and United
States Senator from that State. Mr.. Tur-
pie votes in the Senate to-day, bogus
Senator in stolen seat, because these
crimes were perpetrated. No one ex-
poets him to have the selfrespect to re-
tire from place and power which do
not belong to him. No doubt ne is too
honest man 10 steal dollar from his
neighbors pocket But he has stolen and
keeps the share of power in the Senate
which belongs TO 2iO,000 neighbors, the
Republican voters Of Indiana. Does the
man not know that his keeping and us
ing of stolen property make his own all
the crimes by which the pretended Dem
ocratic majority in the Indiana Legisla-
ture was obtained?
Ex-senator Thurman, one of the wor-
thiest and most honest Democrats of the
past half-century, brought into court con-
elusive proof on Friday against Democrat
ic managers at Columbus, fastening upon
them the crime Of forgery in order to
elect by fraud Senator Of the United
States from Ohio in place Of Mr.. sherman.
The fraud was discovered in time and
defeated; the Senator who had hOnored
the nation by his splendid services as
Secretary Of the Treasury was elected.
But the duty of prosecuting and punish
ing the criminal remains. Ex-senator
Thurman. who has consented 10 lead the
prosecution, holds that he would not be
worthy the name of Democrat if he
should refuse to punish crime by Demo-
Gratis for the party's sake. How widely
he differs from the men in the Senate,
and in the present Administration, who
have plotted. and labored, and instigated
crimes of many kinds, in order to steal
majority in the Senate, He declares that
there can be no escape for the accused
that he has absolutely fatal evidence
against them. Then they will lie behind
prison bars, while the men who set them
on to defraud the people posture as great
Reformers in high offices or other places
OF responsibility.
The fact comes out that Senator Cor
man, whose long career of fraud in Mary
land has been exposed by members of
his own party, and who, nevertheless, is
the chosen confidant of Reformer Cleve-
land, has been placing the wires to cap
ture Oregon by methods peculiar to him.
self Every respectable Democrat knows
what that means Money will be used
freely to hire repeaters and to bribe elec-
ton officers, and false returns will defeat
the will of the people ifpossible. Yet
where is the respectable Democrat who
raises an effective protest? In the House
of Representatives, it is said, four Demo
cratic members refuse TO violate their
oath by voting that Republican MEM
her is not entitled to his seat But how
is it with the great majority Of members
Of that party? DO they refuse TO take
part in fraudulen, decision by which
the people will he robbed?
A distinguished gentleman declares
that the public morals have sadly de-
terioraied; that even Mr.. oiIrland's tele-
phone scandal seems no longer 90 hurt
the Administration. Is that true? Are
men who account themselves upright and
homes, in private life ready to uphold
and defend every kind Of dishonesty that
may be committed by prominent Demo
cgatsg Ifthai Is true, they who excuse
are an level morally with those who
steal. or forge papers, or prostitute their
pablie trusts for private gain. But are
there no; among Democratic voters many
who are indeed honest and upright, who
wait in the hope that the party itself will
discard this rotten Administration, but
who have made up tbeirminds. if ii does
not, 10 satisfy their own consciences by
voting against such party2-N J. Tri-
tuu,