New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-04
A SCANDAL.

This is Interesting. new scandal looms In
sight. The Hon. Marion Butler. in n moment or
frankness drags 1t up from the depth or his po-
litical experience and holds 1t aloft to the gaze
Of n Mortified world which never dreamed mat
anything less white aud pure than the driven
snow ever dared TO approach the sacred shrine
of Popusm. But II seems ii has approached
the Hon. Marion Butler, has embiitercd his
young hope and left him cynically doubling II
there can be any honesty In campaign manage
mcnt. His own sad experience makes him Sis
picous II he who came ang clouds Of glory
into politics could not escape the assaults of the
money demons, we'll may he think II Impossible
that campaign committeeman OF less exalted
character who came TO their work In utter
nakcdness Of principle and won votes in entire
forpetfulness Of the rights OF the people 10 30
cent dollars should have been able 10 rests; the
temptation Of tho devils Therefore. applying
the rule Of three to his character. that of the
Republicans and the wickcdncss he had TO
wade through ms chairman OF the Populst Ma
tional Committee in the campaign Of 1896, he
concludes that 90 per cent Of the Republican
campaign fund was paid in by trusts, monopo
lists, bondholders and money-changers" under
contract for legislation: for, says he II have
chairman of the Populist party committee that
there are interests which will contribute In the
Support Of any party In return for nh agree
"ment that that party will support legislation
Favorable 20 those interests
Now, this opens up fertile field. There has
been much talk OF corruption In tho campaign
Of 1896. Vague nsinuations that this trust and
that industry offered brides have been floating
l.pn hocf haro hoop N
sion which pointed directly to n revelation Of
the whole horrible traffic in law. Mr.. Butler
hns had experience. lie not only knows that
interests offered TO pay for promise OF lcglsla-
ton, but also knows what those interests were
what sort Of law they wanted 10 buy and what
they were willing 10 pay him for II. He has II
In his power to clear the atmosphere. He can
tell who are some of the corruptions's In Amer
lean politics, and they must be among the worst
to have reached the point of hrazonness which
allowed them TO approach with corrupt offers
the very elect OF inspired and ethereal Popu
lism
Who were these scoundrels who sought 10
tempt the Hon. Marion Butler? Let us know
the worst. II our good men IRE TO be so attacked
what hope is there for mere old-party politi-
clans and tho country which they dominate I'M
less those who are strong enough 10 rcpel the
woud-be bribers dcnouncc the tcmptcrs and
punish them? Mr.. Butler has great mission
before him. Did any Of the money changers
or gold bugs" 20 to him with corrupt offers to
contribute TO Bryans campaign fund? II So
they should be discovered. There are dime mu
seums making fortunes with less promising ma
ter1al. Or were tho tcmpters sllycr-m mine own
ers? And what did they do when the Hon.
Marion Butler waved them away with vlrtuous
Indignation? Were their hard hearts touched,
were they convicted Of SIM and in rcpcntant
Split led to help Bryan as a labor Of love? II
would be worth while, Just as study In hui
man nature, to know what interest which Popu-
lists naturally opposed ever dreamed 1t to be
good business 10 buy Legislative promises from
Mr. Butler, even II It could. Also what interest
favored by Popuist policy attempted TO buy
what was It's own already in case Of Populist
success. Somebody apparently was fool enough
to try to buy into m assessment or to pay for a
gift Mr. Buffers further revelations are
awaited with interest.