The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-07
A Plague on Both Your Houses.

If 1t were possible for the United
States senate to pass a resolution de-
claring that there exists in Montana
such a condition of public corruption
and such tolerance Of it by public opin-
ion that no senatorial claimant could
take his seat until some security was
offered by the state for free and de-
cent conduct Of elections. it would
about fill the bill. That being impos-
sible, the next best thing Is to hold up
the political status there to universal
certainly must be that the people of
the state can be shamed into driving
the money changers and the bribe-giv-
ers and takers and all the filthy spawn
of political venality forever from pub
lie place and public activities. If they
cannot or IL they do not. there is but
one thing to be said: God help the
commonwealth Of Montana"
Through long weeks the opponents of
Mr.. Clark occupied the floor, and the
honesty of the American people was in
suited with sickening tales Of what
went on during the session OF the legis-
lature. 1t was money. money every
where. state pride, care for state or
national interests. all thought OF honor
and all regard for common decency dis
appeared as completely as If this were
one of the old pagan revels. All the
birds of prey and all the feasters on
carrion gathered at Helena; and the or
binary salutation of Good day" was
succeeded by, Have you anything good
on the string?" and How much is there
In It for me?" Merely to read of It
makes the gorge rise in any honest
mans throat.
Now the opposition has its innings,
AS might be expected, II does very lit
tie In the way of clearing the fame of
the state or wiping away the stains
from smirched honor. 1t seems to think
that everything will be lovely and
everybody INDICATED II 1t can only be
established that the pot is as black as
the kettle. Through the smut of this
scullery the investigating committee is
feeling its way. with the same old tu-
multi OF witnesses TO prove that every
body offered hribes and everybody was
pleading piteously to be bought; while
the country holds its nose and wishes
devoutly for some way to set the COM
stool and dip It under water again and
again until some OF this fouiness should
be washed away.
There is no help for this condition. any
more than there is for confirmed
drunkard or gambler or libertine except
from within. The people. to whom the
last crime against freedom in the state
and honesty and self-respect In the in
dividual has become an uninteresting
commonplace. must be made to feel
their own disgrace and 10 cleanse their
own stables. community penetrated
by political corruption must work out
its own salvation. But II may be helped
to do that by the smart Of a public hu-
initiation, and those who are fighting
this same imp OF darkness elsewhere
may have their hands upheld and their
hearts strengthened by the spectacle OF
a wholesome example.
We call for the establishment OF a
new and more rigorous standard. from
the halls of the national capitol down
70 the council chamber OF the meanest
city in the land. Let II he understood
that there Is one crime for which there
IS neither conformation nor place for re-
pentsBce Let as be as tender OF the
honor Of our manhood as we have been
Of the sancuty Of our homes. Let us
create and uphold n public opinion that
viii not suffer any man with the faint
Of this evil thing upon him 10 assume
! office or 70 hold H. This nation need
fear no external Zoe. 1t win not be
ruined by bad legislation or lose its
liberties through expansion. II Il Is 10
so down into the mausoleum OF dead
nations. It will be with the cancer OF
corruption at its heart Not the capt
taust, not the money power" but the
man Who offers hribe and. euiItier (,
( pcssihle than he the poor wretch who
/ accepts OF hesilates win be It's bstrayer.
/ we can basTle and beat these bes,ial
/ enemies II We will shut the door %
/ honor in the face OF every man whose
| record Is not above suspicion. Let every
1 man whose hand an unclean dollar has
! crossed be Stunned as worse than the
| desertsr in hattie or the confessed