St. Paul daily globe., 1891-03-08
THE SIN or BRIBERY.

The report OF the investigating com
mittec Of the last legislature on the sell
atorlal bribery matter is very depress-
ing reading. Part of il seems still to be
unpublished. but the public has enough
20 make it blush for the states fair
name. 70 he sure, there is Il general
denial all along the line, and when
IN oucy is brought home to any one it is
shown 10 have been Il free-WIll Offering
from some rich attorney who had gladly
sacrificed his large fortune out of public
spirit 10 assist in the election of the
man of his choice. The GLOBE does
not care to follow up this subject any
further But it is bad business. very
bad business. The men whom this
state ought TO have in congress are the
men who accept their positions in re-
SponSe to spontaneous popular dcmand,
and because they are able aud public
spirited. Ii is terrible crime to have
money determine the choice of orr rep
rcSentatives.
There IS some talk current at present
10 the effect that there are men i'm the
present legislature who are open to cor
ruptlOn. Some bills are named in gen
cral gossip as having been introduced
with mO other purpose than TO create a
source Of revenue to their Ostensible
promoters: and other bills inimical TO
the interests Of certain CLASSES. While
originally framed in complete sincerity.
il is said are now being used as an
agency for blaclmail. The GLOBE.
fun
Of legislation at this and previous ses-
SlOns, believes that this is the most hon
est body of representatives ever assem-
blcd at our capitol. The end is not
yet, however; and in the confusion
and excitement OF the last few
weeks temptations and opportunities
Will increase. No good will be
accomplished by calling the attention of
dishonest men TO the shame OF their
prostitution. y legislator. understand
ing his responsibilities and high calling
under our institutions. who will sell the
vote which he has sworn TO cast accord
ing to the dictates of his enlightened
Judgment, Is too low 10 be amenabIe TO
entreaty or precept But such men.
like all other criminals. are deferred to
some extent by the fear 'Ot detection.
and the GLOBE, which knows the names
of those who are marked as purchas-
able III the catalogues of the LOBBYISTS.
watches their every movement. Let
them observe the prOtOundest stealth in
their foul business if they enter into If.
and even then let them remember that
nothing in these days is concealed from
the eyes of vigiiant public press.
6 he corporations which permit them
selves to be blackmailed are partly TO
blame for legislative corruption. If it
we're distinctly understood that there
Was no traffic in votes, dishonest men
would not seek to be returned to the
house or the senate, because ii would not
be profitable for them, and Doodle bills
would not be Introduced because thev
would carry no hope Of spoils, 1t WouId
take some tune for lue absence Of a cor
luption fund 10 be appreciated. and in
the meanwhile some interests might
.ulier somewhat from hostile legiSIa
ton. But in the long run it would be
profitable for them 10 endure this rather
than Yield year after year to the levies
OF the dishonest. The sin of bribery
whetS its appetite 10y what it feeds on.
The bribe-taker is Incapable of consist
ency and cannot be relied on to be hon
orable, even in his dishonesty. The
more he gets, the more lie wants, and
time and time again he will thke his
price and then prove false to his pur-
rhaser5. No corporation can afford to
submit TO this sort Of thing. This is. of