New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-14
KISSED INTO THE OPEN.

In c,mpclling the Democratic members OF
the Senate to discuss publicly the resolution -
| investigate Senator RoaChs record as an chi
| bczzler the Republican Senators have taken the
| first necessary step toward the viiidication OF
the SenateS honor and the countryS right to
the services of body OF lawmakers who at
! least have not committed crimes specifically
condemned in he penal code. There should
be no compromise with the Democrats on this
matter The facts of Roach's criminal tran>ac-
,ious are admitted If they were net. they are
susceptible of prcof that cannot be mistaken or
cyalcd. The question is not whether Roach
stole the money, but whether being SELF
confessed embczzler, q fugitive from justice.
man who robbed bank and ran away, aban-
doninc his wife and ch;ldren-thc question Is
whether such man shall sit in the Senate Ct
the United States and make laws FOR the people
When this question was FIRST proposed inc
Democrats tried to cvadc il by Sundry sinister
hints against the character OF some Kcplo-
lican Senators, and by mcnacng inquiries as
&, whether the Republican side OF the Scnat"
wished t. 90 into such general inquiry Is
might necessarily be precipitatcd by any press
IRE on their part of the resolutions against
Roach They were promptly informed that
such an inquiry was invited, and that II any
body Lad anything to say against the char-
acter and conduct of Republican senators ne
81 3uld he quick to come forward ana say II.
Then they took another tack, ana Wan'cd u
know if a man couldn't make little mistake
such as stealing $4,000, and running away t"
escape prison, without forever having IT thrown
I'D at him. They said the Republican Senators
we're hard and unforgivina scnelahon 1hey
talked about Pharisccs and they brought III the
Scriptures to prove that if Roach had stolen
SEA 600 it was a Christian duty to forgive HIM
ot least seventy and seven times
I'm, when it was insisted that the obligation
70 forgive did not imply the necessity OF put
ting up with his presence in the United Hta'e'
senate they began 10 be troubled about the
law of the case, and they did MT think it pos
siblc to inquire into the conduct OF ID" senator
nrcvicus to the date Of his election. They are
now wrestling with this embarrassment. ihc'
have assembled a caucus on II, ana nave Ic-
solved that proper observance OF the doc'riho
of State sovereignty Will not allow mem 10
|, ok into "A mans record after Legislature mas
duly certified to his fitness by clec'ng MN.
II is true that the Constitution reposcS III inc
Senate the power to be the Judge OF the eicc-
tons. returns and qualifications II It's mem
hers" and with the concurrence OF two thirds
70 cxpel a member. But the Democratic caucus
apDarcntly considers that Roach must steal the
S64. 900 in the actual presence OF tho senate
in order to render himself amenable - this
dsciplinc. Ii is true that his crime is one
which would have DISTINGUISHED him and re-
moved from him forever the possibility OF hold
ing any Office had he not run away to escape
conviction. But the caucus holds the act OF
runrinp away to have saved Roach. lie got
off. lie was not convicted and this fact rele-
gates his crime into the domain OF mistake
which. being Democrat, and one OF worry
narrow majority. and being elected from he
publican State, sure 20 replace him with Re-
publican, leaves the Senate utterly without
power TO act On this statement OF the Law
the caucus has concluded to stand. But al
least they will have to do it in open session.
They have been Kissed away from the screen
of secrecy, behind which they sought to con-
ccal their acts and purposes. They will have
to stand ont before the country and acknowi-
odgc that they know Roach did steal the money,
did run away. and is in fact guilty of all that
is alleged against him, and that they arc going
10 keep him in the senate to the shame and
discicdit of the country, and TO whatever per
sonal discomfort his ASSOCIATION may Involve, |
b. cause he is Dem Jclat and because they are
in desperate need of Democratic votes. Next
to his expulsion, it is chiefly desirable to have
the country clearly understand the facts OF tho
case and the motives which underlic its treat
ment by the party in power.