The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-30

ACCuocu OI tulS crime, fOaCu pfoCtlCaiiy
confessed it. The amount of his defalca-
ton was stated at $4,000. The
bank recovered about $4,000 from
property in Roach's possession at
the time Of the discovery. His bonds
men were held for 5000, the full
amount of their bonds. And in October,
1879. the report of the comptroller Of the
currency presented the sworn statement
Of the officers OF the Citizens National
bank containing this item: "Defalcation
Of late cashier, $1S 1884" The bank did
not prosecute Roach; he was not indicted,
honesty he departed from Washington
City for Dakota. Mr.. Roach says that the
bank officers were always informed a. to
his whereabouts; his first employment in
Dakota was under a government star
route contract in the department Of which
the president Of the bank had recently
been the head; he has not hesitated to
come back to Washington City to occupy
position whose prominence would be
sure to invite his Identification ~ former
embezzler and involuntary exile.
There il either something behind the
published record or United States Senator
Roach stands for an extraordinary instance
OF immoral effrontery and audacity.
United States Senator Hoar has intro
duced resolution to investigate the past
career Of Senator Roach charged with
being bank embexzler fourteen years ago.
Mr.. Roach was disposed to make a state
ment on the floor Of the senate in his own
behalf. but under the instructions of Sem
ator German he remained silent. Senator
German, for the Democrats, takes the
ground that the senate has no right to
make such an investigation; that Roach il
q member Of the senate and was duly
elected and that they have no right to go
behind the returns. Senator German, in
our judgment. has given Senator Roach
very bad advice, and he will some day Bit
terly regret having followed it. The solid
Democratic majority may be able to defeat
the resolution Of Senator Hoar, but it, do.
feat leaves Senator Roach in q very pain.
full position.
As . matter Of public decency no man
will pretend that party vote upon purely
technical grounds can purge a senator's
record Of deeds that make him o disrepu-
table member Of the national legislature.
Suppose the charges against Senator Roach
were even more infamous than they APP
pear in his record, according to the posi-.
ton Of Senator German the United States
senate has no right to investigate the
record OF any man elected to that body.
no matter how infamous may be the
crimes with which he is solemnly charged.
II it be true that the United States sen.
ate cannot purge itself Of bank embez.
xler who escaped the penitentiary because
the bank officers in order to get some of
their money back from the embezzler's
friends were willing to compound a fell
ony. then IL is an unfortunate situation
for the United States senate, but this
technical plea will not help but rather
hurt Mr.. Roach and his party.
If Mr.. Roach 10 guilty as charged, and
there are no extenuating circumstances.
he has no moral business to cit in the
United States senate; if he Is not guilty a.
charged he should court investigation and
his party should demand investigation for
him without regard to consequences. 1t 10
not party or political question at all. il i,
question OF Difference on the part of ma
tional legislature for the decent opinion.
of mankind, and no technical defense. no
defeat OF the resolution OF Investigation
on technical grounds can prove other than
n IN drS 81 g..
and his injudicious party friends. The
law does not oblige witness to crimina,e
himself. but refusal to testify on this
ground does not save the witness from the
social contempt and dis.rust Of his fellow
men.
The defeat Of this resolution Of invest.
gation will be the social and political
death of Mr.. Roach. It may take him
some time to find this out, but ultimately
be viii feel that life in the United States
senate and outside OF 1t will be q burden to
him IN Washington City II he rests con-
tent with the ability of his party majority
10 s,ite this resolution of Investigation
Secretary of War Belknap resigned his
position when there was no proof that ha
had been other than the victim Of h;s
wife's unprincipled conduct In accepting a
large sum OF money In return for the prorn.
ise OF an Indian leadership, the briber
assuming that her influence with her
husband could be successfully used 10
turn the scale in favor of his appointment.
Beiknsp's previous record had been b,ama.
less; II was that of q brilliant, successful
lawyer, a very gallant soldier and an eff
cent public officer. He could no, haye
been legally forced from his position. but
he had seA-Tespect enough 10 remain in
honest obscuEi.y 10 the day OF his death.
his disgrace WAS vicarious stor.r,sr,
for the sin Of his wife. Mr.. Roach owes
IL TO himself IL court Investigation - IA
has anything to say in extenuation of hi.
present attitude Of q bank enlbezzler ubo
has been able TO escape justice: if he hs,
nothing TO say for himself he Womb ;.
wise 10 resign or coarse he can s..x,,
the senate, but the fierce hight thai h..,.
upon infamy enthroned viii make him
wish thai he had never left Dakota
Reformed drunkards are permitted =,
lecture on intemperance; reformed rake.
are permitted TO preach the gospel Of
chastity aud purity, but reformed bank
robbers have no business to sit N the
United States senate and expect TO escape
public odiGHa BY party vote which re-