Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-02-08
SENATOR S. 3. ELkINs
The Champion OF Pure Government
and Foe of Corruption.

- - - -~tttS - ffk@4ste
BALTIMORE, Feb. j.
To the Editor az The Herald
DEAR Sir: Why doyou not print en-
tire the speech Oh Hon. Stephen B.
Elkins made in The Senate ON the third
OF last month? No more direct and
practical utterance upon that crying
abominatiou. the private sale of United
States bonds, has been heard on the
/ floor of the Senate since that abomina-
ton was first inflicted upon the coun-
try There is in the speech not a
trace Of political trimming. not sign
of ambidextrous handling, not the
least attempt at the politicians trick
called whipping the devil round the
stump; on the contrary ali is direct.
open. businesslike. 1t is in fact the
plain talk Of a practical business man
to the practical business men of all
parties, put in natter-of-fact way at
once cogent and convincing Well
may we be proud OF our new Senator
since his FIST move in the honorable
position he now occupies proves him
the champion Of pure government and
the Incorporating foe of corruption.
live may judge by his recent action
we may safely set him down as man
ever ready to do what lies in his pow
er to hold in check the vile horde of
corruptionists whose intrigues are
running the country financially.
Reading this speech of Mr.. Elkins
rehectively one is struck with its mild
and considerate tone throughout.
There is an admirable miugling of the
Io1fifey IN re with the sua79fey 1T mode
which thoughtful reader will duly
appreciate when he remembers how
provocative the subject is Of q con-
trary treatment. Not once is the Sem
ator betrayed into an unkind or un-
courteous expression. While review
ing the financial methods of the Presi-
dent and his Secretary of the Treasury
not word was uttered inpugning
the purity of their motives. And yet
how telling is this silence; for it is a
case where even formal apologies for
possible misapprehension might be
by some construed as indirect OF inn
piled charges. The logic Of facts is
iuvincible. The speech plainly states
these facts. and the reader is left to
determine between the political hon
esty and the financial ability of the
high officials implicated in this scan
DIAL OF the times. 1t was a bold move
on the part of our West Virginia SEN
ator to signalize his entrance upon his
Senatorial duties by laying his hand
effectively upon this mass of unspeak-
able rottenness-the shame of our age
dh0 NOuAAi v. 81 II SnOW0 LIS AAnIoo
for the leadership even in so august
body as the Senate The admins
tration' S management of the Treasury
is almost universally condemned. The
executive grab-game is toos open to
longer deceive anyone. A corner in
the Treasury, by meansof an ail-round
financial contract is not thing to be
long concealed from people whose eye
glasses are the almighty dollar. Even
a President OF the United States can
not have all things just as he thinks
| fit TO will, nor can he fool all the peo-
pie all the time. Everybody is look
ing for some honest, earnest, strong
willed opponent of executive reckless
ness, bravado and obstinary, and Mr..
Elkins bids fair to fill the bill.
HERMES,