New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-26
LEGISLATIVE PROBABILITY.

Excontion is taken by several Connecticut
newsn,ners N a casual observation of The 'rrib-
une In the course Of an article on Connecticut
politics few days since TO the effect that the
prodgality of the late Legislature. In fiinGins
rroiuitics 70 everybody who had been in attend
ance at the Capitol during the session. had not
been 50 severely ccnsured by the State press us
il deserved to be. 1t was added that the I'M
charitably disposed would perhaps undertake 10
explain the omission by the circumstance that
the representatives OF the press OF bo'h parties
were among those who were handsomely rcmcm-
bercd AT the States expense. Some oi our NoN-
necticut contemporaries seem 10 nave put upon
this the strained construction that II j. Inv
Tribune's explanation whereas me lripuhe s'iu
ONLY that il might be offered by the unchirl'aoN
disposcd which The Tribune Is not: as We trust
il is hardly necessary to say. To make IL entire
" clear we now say that The Tribune mas 100
high an opinion of the Connecticut press ana
we speak now of the press of both partles' lor
we are frank TO say that. in our Judgment 10
higher standards Of political morality prevail III
The. conduct of any newspaper in the country than
in the offices Of the two leading Democratic jour
nails Of Connecticut. The Hartford Times ana
The New Haven Register-we have too hish
an opinion Of the Connecticut press generally 10
entertain the suspicion for moment that II
vvonld be swerved from the duty Of criticism and
censure Of legislative immortality by selfish or
merccnary considerations.
We are reminded by that stanch Republican
newspaper, "The Hartford Courant, mat us
own comments upon what it properly describes
as "dcmorazing profligacy' were by no means
evasivc: that It's dcnunciations were outspoken
and severe Upon the same authority we are
Informed that THE Norwich Bulletin, Inc
Ansonia Sentinel" and THE Waterbury RepuD-
lean" were equally severe in their condemnation
Of the shameful scattering OF puohc money III
persopal cratuities" All these are Republican
newspapers Of influence and position, and we
take Measure In seconding the commentator or
THE Courant" for the manness, courage ana
uprightncss with which they have condemned
,hcir own party representatives for their conduct
in this matter For there really was no excuse
for r. None Of these representatives would nave
fling away his own money with such prOdigali'y
in Tins" to men who had done him personal ser
vice Nor would any one of them, had he been
intrlstcd with the mana cement Of the affairs or
q CORPORATION, ever dared fling about the cor
poration's money with such reckless profusion
would certainly have been speedy and sharp
reckoning demanded by stockholders And In
what does the difference consist between the
agents of a business corporation and the agents
selected by the people TO transact the business
of the State, except that the trust reposed III 'he
latter is more honorable and the responsibility
far greater? In the court of morals the proceed
ing IS utterly indefcnsible.
The argument from political morality may DE
met with a sneer by the practical politicians, VINO
hold that there are no morals in politics Ihcy
NAV shed all such appeals "A duck sheds water.
Rut II remains TO be said for their benefit and
instruction that IT is rrctricvably bad politics 10
administer political trust less carefully, con
sclentiously and economically than business
enterprise No political party can DO II ana long
retain bower nor can any representative or an
honest marty do II without forfeitng the conn
dcnce OF his party and all influence In lis cOun-
ellis II does not need now 10 be pointed out
that the Republican majority in the Legislature
committed grave error in the action referred
to in the closing days Of the session. Nor does
il in any degree excuse them that the Democrats
were equally cupable. The majority IS respon-
sibe. But II Is an encouraging circumstance
that the Republican press Of the State has not
hesl,ated 10 condemn it. What Is needed TO cor
rect the abuse which is the growth Of years. both
parties sharing the responsibility and the dis
grace Is public discussion in the press, followed
by decisive action condcmning the practice IN
the nominating conventions OF both parties
Good politics. sound morals and the honor Of the
State demand II.