The evening times., 1899-10-30
Nemesis n. a Dick Hunter,

With courage as admirable as In the
circumstances it appears desperate, .he
Civil Service Commission has thrown pru-
dence and the fear of Caesar to the dogs
and has proceeded to call Hanna's Dick to
account for alleged violation Of the politi-
cal blackmail law, involved in the Burdell
letter to Government officials calling upon
them to throw up their hands and be "gone
through" in behalf of the Ohio campaign
corruption fund.
brief on the subject has been prepared
and given out by the Commission. 1t is
an excellent and convincing exposition of
the statute and of the manner in which
the same has been defied by the Ohio Re-
publican road agents But one thing can
be said of it in the way of unfavorable
criticism. In advance of publication it vas
submitted to and endorsed by George F.
Edmunds, fact which We are afraid wi l
largely tend to discredit it in ths minds
of many Americans. If he could have
been induced to disagree with and de-
nounce the position taken by the Com
missioners. it is probable that they would
have been much strengthened in popu ar
estimation.
We may excuse that blunder, however,
in view of the amazing fearlessness of
movement which will certainly bring exec
utive vengeance upon the heads of the men
who dare it. Their utter indifference 10
the effect of arraigning Dick and, con-
structively, the persons who control and
direct him.. at the bar of public opinion and
also that OF the courts, will neither be for
gotten nor forgiven by the omnipotent Han
ma. II is too serious a matter for that
Whoever shall be found guilty Of political
solicitation either by word or letter in any
department or Office of the Government is
entitled to the reward of a fine not ex-
ceeding five thousand dollars, or imprison-
ment not exceeding three years, or both
in the discretion of the court
Now, nobody connected with the present
Administration has the slightest objection
to this drastic law, but ali are naturally
opposed TO its enforcement, a consideration
which may not have sufficiently occurred to
the Civil Service Commission. Its ef-
fort to have the statute applied and ex-
ecuted will fill the country with joy that
il possesses some public servants who are
not afraid to perform their sworn duty
al the cost of their heads. This
will be the sentimental view; the prac-
teal one will be different, and to the
latter We wish to call the attention of
the self immolating functionaries.
If they entertain the shadow of a sus-
picion that the conviction and sentence OF
alleged political blackmailers would inju-
riously affect the coparceners or adherents
of such persons. they are sadly mistaken. 1
The masses who support the dominant Or
sanization and regime. do so fully advised 1
as 10 its morals and methods. They have |
swallowed the horror and scandal of the /
army beef infamy without winking. They |
have condoned the army transport villain |
les, Algerism, Eaganism, Sampsonism. and |
Otisism with perfect complacency: and they |
are not at this late day to be nauseated |
by little corruption fund solicitation |
They Will vote as they have shared, or
have been promised or coerced, exactly as
heretofore. There may not be enough of
hem TO go around; for nothing is more
i- NA''@' 'H"t 'Ho9S "io diS oeIcHl
nough TO resent the abuses, evils. and in
amies TO which allusion has been made
AVE already withdrawn for the time. or
or all time. from the connection.
We are able to praise the vaior and devo-
ior of the Civil Service Commissioners,
'ut, as far as results promise. they might
S well try to suppress an epidemic of bu-
ionic plague by firing a Chinese paper
rayer pellet at it.