The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-06
The way Of Duty Is pain.


The duty which lies before the United
States senate IN connection with, the
charges Of bribery made against Sena-
tor Clark. Of Montana. 10 mot pleasant
but It Is an exceedingly plain one. Tha
ellega4isn h that M. Clark secursd his
election by outright bribery on q large
scaie. and Il Il said that money can be
traced directly from him through his
agents to parties who received 1t in or
der that they might use the fact as evil
dence against him. It IL held. on the
other side. that the bringing Of this ac-
cusatien y only . part OF the game OF
politics a. II has been played by aspir-
ing millionaires in Montana for soma
pears past; that the evidence ia manu-
featured and that personal hate Ia be-
hind the whole movement.
The responsibility that rests upon the
senate reaches farther than the partic-
nlar instance in hand: and the circum-
stances require Of It gravity and COM
pleteness Of action that shall leave It's
decision not open to criticism or insinua-
tion. We DO mot pretend 10 know any
thing Of the merits Of this particular
case. We do see the considerations on
either side that will lend to the action
OF the senate : weight far greater than
! the mere discrimination Of right and
wrong between conflicting political in
terestA
On the one hand. there 10 the great
need to punish bribery, to make it
odious ana to discourage the use Of
money to obtain public place In this
country, There can be no doubt that
this crime 10 Of frequent occurrence. It
is not confined to any party, but fastens
like q cancerous growth upon both. Nv
cry community where Office depends up
on public suffrage has been forced to
grapple sooner or later with the imp Of
corruption. The sooner 1t becomes 50
disgraceful in this country to accept a
bride that no man will take one for his
vote. the sooner 1t is held to be as much
o crime to offer one as to commit any
other felony, the sooner will our insti-
tutions be protected from the dry rot
that has Slapped the strength and life of
nations This is subject on which an
American citizen cannot feel too strong
ly.
On the other hand. there has been al
together too much loose vituperation.
especially concerning members of the
federal senate. Men who do not know
better have been taught by those who
dc to regard II as body more than
commonly mindful of the financial argu-
ment and reverent before the claims of
the millionaire. Most Of this is mere
rubbish, Of the sort relied upon in tho
campaign Of 1896 to attract the votes
Of reckless ana passionate men. But II
has been repeated so often that 1t has
acquired certain standing by mere
iteration with better portion of the
community. And 1t is for this reason
that the senate should set it's face with
more than ordinary stcrnness against
any unlawful use Of money in a senn-
torial election.
These are excellent reasons why the
case Of Clark should be examined with
the utmost patience and the most dill
gent scrutiny. Bribery is one of the
offenses most difficult to prove; but IL
1t can be established in this case beyond
a reasonable doubt. no tenderness for
person or party should shield the Of
fender. And II 1t cannot, those who
were guilty of making such charge
from political motive should be made
to vince under the lash.