New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-04
CONUONING ROACH.

CONDONINb NOdCh'
II begins TO look as if the Democrats OF the
United States Senate intended to make stand
against taking any action in the case OF Roach
the man accused of cmbezzlement recently
elected to the Senate from North Dakota. The
facts in ROach's case are practically admitted
and are open to no doubt whatever. In 1873
he was cashier of the Citizens Bank of Wash
ington. lie appropriated large amounts OF the
banks money. stated at S64 900, but probably
considerably in excess of that sum. When his
tbcfts were discovered he left the city. aban-
doning his wife and children. Ills bondsnen
were liable for $4,000, and that amount the
bank recovered from them. 1t also seized some
property belonging to Roach, from winch
though heavily mOltgaged. about Sl5,ooo was
realized after period of years. The balance
whatever it amounted to, has never yet been
paid or recovered. These facts have become
notorious. They admit of easy, accurate ana
ncontestable proof They are matter OF
record and the essential part of the record Is
in the possession of the United States Govern
ment That Roach should have had the an-
dacity to make his appearance Ill Washington
after such career there, and while his de-
falcation was still unpaid is simply amazing
but if is much less so than the seeming fact that
he is TO be allowed to brazen it out and that
the Democratic party of the Senate. as party
intends to sustain him in this outrageous course
It. was q disgrace to the Democrats OF the
Senate and to the party they represent that
il should have been left TO Republican mem
Der to propose an investigation into Roach
criminal transactions. If the case had been
less clear. if the sources of information con
corning it had been at distance, less abso-
lutey trustworthy, or at all open to the slis-
picion of partisan intrigue or personal malice,
there would still have been no excuse Tor ig-
noring the scandal. When partsanship has be-
come 80 violent and SO devoid OF conscience as
to make Senators willing to sit in the highest
council of the Nation with man whom they
know to be runaway embczzler, partisanship
has gone Just one step too far. 1t Is unfortu-
nately characteristic of the Democratic party
that those who speak for it, and whose positions
give them the tight to speak, invariably reply
to charges and statements of this kind with
the suggestion that there are Republicans who
have done things they ought not to do and
that if one person is to be investigated others
must be also. This is not manly reply. 1t
belongs properly to a community OF sncaks, not
to body of United States Senators. The Re-
publican members Of the Senate and the Re-
publican party throughout the Nation desire
that it should be distinctly understood that the
necessity of investigating the case OF Roach and
of expeling him upon his guilt being proved is
not to be avoided by sneers or threats. II
criminal conduct can be proved against any
Republican Senator the Republican party asks
that it be DONE and that the same punishment
be metcd out to him which is demanded against
Roach.
The Democratic party has gone to Washing
ton swollen beyond recognition with prcianccs
of moral purpose During the late campaign
its candidate and the orators and newspapers
which supported him were distracted with
righteous horror and Indignation at the evil
conditions which had befallen the Nation dur
ing the long period of Republican supremacy.
They were eloquent with pledges of reform, and
with roseato descriptions Of the new era that
would come in with Cleveland when the powers
at Washington would have thought of nothing
except the public good and of no means to
attain it except those that were models Of
purity. And they begin this delectable. era by
sitting like a pack of towards in their seats in
the Senate while the finger of scorn is pointed
at one of their number, charged with cmbczzle-
ment. and at them all, as men who, to sustain
their besmrched power, are willing to welcome
his presence and condonc his crimes!