The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-15

A Blstering Disgrace.
The lucid and convincing narration
in the Philadelphia Press yesterday Of
the successive details of the colossal
joobery whereby the gigantic Sugar
trust, controlled by the Havemeyers Of
New York, corall,d the president and
senate of the United States in further
ance of their scheme Of monopolistiC
enrichment through favorable tariff
schedules inserted to order in the hem
stitched Wilson bill in exchange fol
cash equivalents forms q story of pol
iticsl spoliation without precedent in
the literature of great scandals. The
spectacles of n great party deliberately
selling itself. in return for a
$500,O00 campaign contribution not
to speak Of individual grstuities
OF q highly moral chief executive en-.
msshing himself step by step in the
webof deceit and wrong-doing through
selfish friendship forced on him 10y
oily agents Of the trust; Of the secre-
tsry of the treasury openly admitting
the deal before = committee Of Demo
cratic politicians; and, finally. of n
cabal Of Democratic senator's working
in secret behind barred doors upon
tariff schedules which we're framed to
the dictation of the trusts chief man.
ayers, forms in its shameful aggregate
a record that can excite no other feel
ing than utter indignation.
There have been rumors that this ex.
posure would come. Hints aud frac-
ments of this odjous trafi; in the con-
iiderce Of the people have variou'ly
crept into publicity despite extraorii-
uary efforts to hush the matter up. /,
is even current talk that resolutions
looking to an impeachment Of the pres
ident under whose misguided vision
this shameful scandal hat been plotted
and fashioned we're at one time quietly
circulated in inner congressional cir
cles, with view to ascsrtaini ng the
drift Of party sentiment Finally, in
the open senate Of the nation. reputable
orators Of the minority boldly
charged that a gigantic deal had
been consumma'ed which demanded
a thorough investigation But no.
until this time has the resl disclosur,
been made public, or the real evidence
marshallei with r force that cannot
now be laughed down. The narration
Of the Press is credible first because II,
supplies its own proof; and secondly
because it is the Only hypothesis that
throws any scientific light on the other
wise incomprehensible incoherency
and chaos of the Democratic senste's
eff r,s at tariff revision. The so
Der judgment Of the people will
not only readily credit this ex.
posure, but 1t will henceforth
demand, with IN emphasis that cannot
be stilled, the lifting Of the whole yell
and the merciless chas tisement of those
who have thus sold out the taxpayers
Of our country for pei! and personal
profit. A public sentiment which can
revolt at Tammanyism in Gotham will
not fail to mets out scrupulous punish
ment to the larger Tammanyism that
has coiled itself in the chief places Of
national legislation.
Not the least interesting portion of
this exposure is the fact that much Of
the corruption fund contributed BY
Wall street lobbyists to the campaign
which elected Mr. Cleveland went to-
ward the cementing Of Populist fusions
In tho west. Thus we have the curious
anomaly OF Populist ranters acting as
unconscious cat paws for the very
monopoliss that formed the incessant
theme Of their bitterest denunciatious.
1t is claimed by the Press correspon-
dent, who has exceptional facilities for
getting accurate information, that at
least Colorado and Illinois wers
directly carried for the Democracy
by aid Of money thus supplied ::
and what was true OF these
states may with reason and logic b.
assumed to be true Of other states sim
ilarlY manipulated We trust that our
Western fellow citizens will perceive
the peculiar irony of their present sit.
nation. 1t may have a tendency, IL
properly understood, to abate in the
future their habitually mad ardor to
right exaggerated wrongs by blindly
playing into the hands Of their greatest
enemies.
For the rest, this revelation can only
emphasize the earnestness Of the na.
tiOn's coming reputation Of the rotten
thing today called Democracy; and add
zest to the summary retribution which
was already fully decided upon