The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-03-27
ERMs PER YEAR,
81 90
WEDNESDAY. MARCH q.
Unmitigated scoundreIism.

OumfIl0dIcu OCOunuFcllsI0.
Next to the systematic corruption OF the
ballot under the direction of w. w. DUD-
LEY, carried into effect by his party ac-
completes throughout the state, and
screened by Pharisees in high office, we
conceive that no more serious question OF
public morality has come before the peo-
pie of Indiana than is presented by the
discovery of the alteration in the miners
screen bill, which makes it void. There
Is a class of politicians who consider the
defeat of legislation by triekery, fraud, de-
ception, or even crime, as sharp prac-
tice." The man who accompiishes results
IN that manner is "a shrewd fellow" "a
clever artist" "a skillful manipulation, I"
etc. There is another class who attach the
blame OF failure OF legislation, through
such causes, to the legislators only. In
this view, the legislators ought to keep
their eyes open; they should he sufi-
GENTLY alert to discover any trickery or
fraud; if they are not, it is pleading the
baby act to object to it afterward. We
believe it to be generally true that those
who make pleas of this kind have more
knowledge OF the villainy than honest
men can have and remain silent.
For ourselves we desire to disclaim any
sympathy with either OF these classes, or
any satisfaction In results accomplished
by such methods, even when the legisla-
ton defeated is of a character that does
not meet our appreciation. Any man who
takes part in the defeat of legislation, or
procurement of it, by the covert alteration
of bill, is a felon; and any man who has
knowledge of the proceeding and does not
Istop it, who connives at, screens, or con-
tsents to such action, even though he do
hot come within the limits of the criminal
law, is an infamous scoundrel. The Of
Tense is the worse because the person who
If guilty must, almost of necessity, occupy a
position OF trust, and betray that trust in
cold blood. In legislation, as in all other
business, certain duties must be delegated.
The legislators are entitled to rely largely
on the honesty of employees. That great
-gilanee should be exercised is unques-
tionable, but everyone knows that in the
confusion of the closing hours of busy
session it is comparatively easy for
a person in position of trust to accom-
plish almost anything by stealth and de-
ception. There is but one remedy by
which the future can be at all guarded
from similar crimes, and that is the vigor-
GUS punishment OF the offender.
The enormity Of an offense of this ma
ture is not generally comprehended. tits
a defeat of the will of the people 1t is a
subversion of popular government. OF
what avail is it for the people to expend
their time and money in the election of
delegates. and tax themselves to pay their
representatives, to secure the enactment
of needed laws, if some treacherous hound
is permitted to destroy the result OF their
labors with impunity? Why have
any government, if some hireling is
permitted to displace cog and stop the
whole machinery? 1t makes our govern
mental system a mockery. The people
are not ruling themselves while such
things are done. The cleverest thief
and the most cunning briber are their
lords and masters. Ii we permit
their crimes to go unpublished we are
tacitly delegating the law-making power
70 such conscienceless reprobates as hap
pen to get within reach of legislative
papers. There could be no greater folly.
The offense is not one peculiar to this leg
islature or this state. II is entirely too
common 70 be pleasant throughout the
country. 1t should be stopped by the
most vigorous methods
We see no reason why a thorough in
vestigation OF this matter should not be
made by the grand jury of Marion county.
The crime of altering apublic record,
authorized by law, has been committed
here, and the criminal should be brought
e Justice if possible. It is wholly imma-
terial to US who he may be or what may
be his politics. He belongs in the peni-
Tertiary, and the chances are strong that
company can be found for him of those
who procured the crime to be committed.
The ofense is Of such gravity that an at
tempt should be made to fix the response
bility for it. We demand prompt action in
this case.