The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-05-17
LIE AND A ISLANDER.

The Colorado papers are publishing and
making great ado over an affidavit re-
Gently made by one F. A. LUoKENBAcH,
formerly OF Pennsylvania and New York,
but now of Denver. Lstterly in connection
with the silver discussion a good deal has
been said about an Englishman, ERNEST
SETD, and his connection with the act of
Congress of 1878 demonetizing silver. 1t
has been alleged that SEYD was sent from
England for the purpose of engineering the
passage of the characterization act The
newspapers have intimated there was
something in the charge, and the matter
has been mentioned in speeches before
Congress. 1t is to this matter that Mr..
LUoKENABCH's affidavit relates. The gen
tleman tells who and what he has been and
is, says he was in the habit of crossing the
ocean every year, that he became well ac-
quainted with SEYD and proceeds:
In February, 1874 while on one of these visits,
and while his CUES: for dinner, L among other
things alluded to rumors af1oat of parlianen-
tary corruption, and expressed establishment
that such corruption should exist. In reply to
this, he told me he could relate facts about the
corruption OF the American Congress that
would place it far ahead of the English parlia-
ment in that line. So far the conversation was
at the dinner table between us. His brother.
RICHARD, and others, were also there. but this
was table talk between Mr. ERNEST SEYD and
myself After dinner he invited me into ano-
Their room. where we resumed conversation
about legislative corruption. He said: IF you
pledge me your honor as gentleman not to di
vulge what am about to tell you, while live
1 will convince you that what I said about the
corruption of the American Congress is true =
gave him the promise and he then contin-
ued: Il went to America in the winter of 1872 8
authorized to secure. if could. the passage of
bill demonetiZing silver. It was to the interest
OF those 1 representative governors of The
Bank of England-to have it done took witt
me $4,000 with instructions if that was no
| sufficient to accomplish the object to draw fol
another 100000 or as much more as was neces
| sary." He told me German bankers were alsC
/ interested in having it accomplished He saiC
he was the financial adviser of the bank. He
said: II saw the committees Of the House anC
and Senate and paid the members the money
and stayed in America until 1 knew the measure
was safe.' 1 asked if he would give me tht
names of the members to whom he paid tn,
money, but this he declined to do. He said
reaching effect of that measure, but they will il
after years. Whatever you may think of cor
rs ption in the English parliament, 1 assure yol
would not have dared to make such an attemp
here as 1 did il your country"
Mr.. LUCKENBACH says he expressed
shame for his countrymen in Legislative
bodies, and that thereafter the subject wa
never mentioned. The Colorado papers ar
printing the affidavit as furnishing an ex
PLANTATION of how the demonstration &C
came to be passed. 1t may be stated tina
Mr.. SEYD died year or two ago, hence b.
cannot be heard in vindication of himself
We are not going to dispute Mr.. LUCK
ENBAoH's affidavit. We are not going t.
say that MIR. SETD did not tell him all tn
gentleman alleges. Some will think that
gentleman intrusted with such an i'm
portsnt mission as the bribing of tn
American Congress, and given half mil
lion dollars with which to do the business
being authorized to draw another half mil
lion if necessary, is not the kind of maj
who would go about telling of his feat ever
upon the solemn promise of his nearer
that they will not repeat him; bu
we will not cast doubt upon any
thing Mr.. LUcKENBAoH says, but we vii
say that if Mr.. SEYD said what the Denve
gentleman swears he said, then the Eng
lishman stated an untruth. The thing is 8
improbable that one is astounded that any
body should pretend to take any stock in il
1t is ludicrous that the governors of tn
Bank of England should think they coult
go into the bribery business on the whole
lous that they could succeed, and the fact
not come out until nineteen years after
wards, the briber being so loose of tongu
that he would talk the facts over with per
sons who were little closer to him thai
strangers. We say this is simply prepos
ferrous, ana Mr.. LUoKENBAcK's AFFIDAVIT
being true it proves nothing more tina
that Mr.. SEYD was q loose-tongued brag
CART and reckless slanderer.
The HERALD would not be understood a
saying it does not believe congressman ar
sometimes corrupted; we even believe ths
improper If not corrupt influences wer
brought to bear to bring about the demont
tization of silver; but we take not tn
slightest stock in this SEYD story, and it
to be regretted that friends of silver WI
resort to such stuff to gain support for
good cause. Let US make good, squar
fight for free coinage, or stop fighting alto
gether
Wuy DOES net some of our farmers =,