The sun., 1890-06-18


Tomorrow the Jersey coast will be the
scene OF an unpleasant spectacle. The
family OF the President Of the United States
even to tho second and third generations
will move into seaside cottage which they
have neither purchased nor hired for the
summer. This establishment is, In plain
words an eleemosynary institution. Certain
gentlemen have subscribed to pay for the
land, the building, and the interior furnish
ings even to the brass wanRmakers In the
billiard room. On the part OF some OF the
subscrihers the gift is matter Of disinter-
ested although mistaken charity Other
contributors to the fund, as there is reason
to apprehend, we're inspired by motives not
quite no unselfish.
There is probably no law In the Revised
Statutes under which Gen. HARRISON could
be punished for this disgraceful proceeding.
Sections $500 and 5,5O1 come as near to his
case, perhaps, as any. These sections con-
tain the following provision:
EVERY oflcsr of tho United stateA and every person
acting for or on behalf tho United States in off,
ci capacity under By virtue Of tho authority OF any
departm ont ofico or tho Government thereof who
asks accepta rsce yes any money, or any contract
promise undertaking obligation, grauiy. or security
for the payment of money or for the delivery or con-
veyance of anything Of value with intent 10 have his
decision action on any question, matter cause. or
proceeding which may at any time be pending, or
which may be by law brought before him in his ofcal
capacity in his place OF trust or profit influenced
thereby - shall be punished by hne not more
than three times the amount asked accepted, or re.
ceived and by imprisonment not more than three
vears."
We suppose that an attempt to punish
Gen. HARRISON under sections $500 and
b,5O1 OF the Revised statutes could be met
successfully with a technical defence on
these grounds
1. The nominal receiver OF the gratuity is
not Gen. HARRISON. but Cen. HARRIsoN's
wife; and she is not an officer OF the United
States. On tho other hand, 1t might be
shown that this is mere evasion, since Gen.
HARRISON is the head Of the family which
now possesses the cottage at Cape May
Point, and it has been lifted up with special
reference to his occupancy. The billiard
table in the great billiard room, and the
brass wanamakcrs that adorn that apart
ment were certainly not designed for the
use Of Mrs. HARRISON or of Baby MCKEE.
q The cottage is not conveyed with intent
to have Gen. HARRIsoN's decision or action
Influenced In any question which may come
before him in his official capacity. If that
defence were raised, 1t might be exceedingly
difficult to prove the contrary. Where dis
interested motives are loudly proclaimed,
and. perhaps, where the consideration ex-
pected by the donor is matter OF the In
definite future, a conviction would be very
hard to procure. And yet, at the same time,
nobody can doubt that every subscriber
to the HARRISON MCKEE fresh air fund.-
with the possible exception Of Mr.. GEORGE
WASHINGTON CHmDs and Mr.. ANTHONY
JOSEPH DRExEL. expects to obtain sooner or
later, through the influence Of Gen. HARRI-
SONS official station. return in some shape
for his investment.
Such line OF defence might be sufficient
to save Gen. HARRIsoN from fine OF three
times the value Of the Cape May Point cot
tage, and likewise from imprisonment for
the prescribed term OF not more than three
years. We do not think the President could
be convicted under the statute quoted above,
or under any other statute. We have no
idea that he will ever be prosecuted In the
United States courts He is on the safe side
Of the law concerning bribery.
Nevertheless there Is another and an un-
written law which prohibits Presidents while
In office from accepting gratuities of any
sort, no matter how ingeniously they may
be disguised. 1t Is based on well-defined
principles Of public morals, as well as on
considerations OF personal self-respect, |
which no sensitive intelligence can fail to
recognize Most Of the men who have pre-
ceded Gen. HARRISON In the Office of Presi- |
dent have understood this unWritten law OF |
honor. and have scrupulously obeyed 1t.
Whenever the law has been violated by a |
President in Office, that President has dis |
graced himself and his office, and tho nation |
which elected him.
We are sorry for BENJAMIN HARRISON!