The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-04-05

Gratis In the lower house of
congress is Mr.. Richardson.
of Tennessee. He Is Il gentle-
man personally attractive and distin-
guished. but politically the period OF his
leadership cannot be said to have been
notable for successful results. To for
iner shortcomings in that form of
sa gacity which characterizes great lead
ership 1t looks now as If another were
soon to be added.
Recently Mr.. Richardson arose to n
question of privilege and solemniy in
formed the house that information had
been received by him alleging IL shock
ing condition of immortality in connec-
tion with the negotiation by Denmark
of the sale to this country OF the DAM
ish West Indies. He possessed, he said.
q certified copy of q secret report made
to the Danish government by an alleged
agent in which charges were made re-
fiecting on the integrity of members OF
congress as well as upon other officials
and also upon the American newspaper
press Upon his honor as a gentleman
Mr.. Richardson disclaimed any desire
to exploit this scandal for partisan ef-
feet: but nothing would satisfy him ex-
cept Il thorough investigation.
Well, the investigation is being held,
and it's results are being leralded Up
to this time they do not call for much
comment. The alleged agent of Den
mark turns out to have been q garrul-
ors nobody, whom the Danish ministry
disclaims utterly, who never had any
relations with the American department
Of state, as he claimed he had, and who
on general principles, seems to have
been better subject for Il lunatic asy-
lum than for q place in the confidence
of the Democratic leader on the floor Of
the house. The alleged purchasability
of congressman not only is not proved,
but is shown to have existed simply in
the imaginations of men OF small calibre
who assemble for purposes of gossip in
the back rooms of saloons or on street
corners-men so completely without re-
sponsiDility that their word would not
be taken against that of Il yellow dog.
There has not been brought forth in
this investigation. upon which Mr..
Richardson SO strongly insisted for nom
partisan reasons, the slightest evidence
or intimation from a responsible source
Of the employment of illicit means in
the negotiation OF the Danish West
Indies sale. The tale told by Captain
Christmas shows up as u tale of an
irresponsible evolved from the inner
consciousness of an imagination per-
verted and unwell. Until Mr.. Richard
son took hold of it and gave to it the
endorsement of his honor as q gentle
man" it had been banded about in prl-
vate with no reputable man deigning to
dignity it with serious notice. It re-
mained for the house leader of the De-
mocracy to lift it up before the gaze OF
the civilized world. some OF whose, in
habitants will seize with avidity upon
this excellent opportunity to gloat over
the fancied corruption of the great re-
public ana instruct their children that
this corruption is a truth, because the
leader Of Il great party in congress
staked his honor upon it.
OF course Mr.. Richardson never meant
that he endorsed the charges OF this
man Christmas. What he meant was
that he pledged his honor upon the
authenticity of his information as to
what Christmas had said. But the world
at large will look at the matter in II less
accurate light. 1t will hear vaguely of
the Christmas charges, pay little atten-
tion to their disproof and settle down to
the view that Mr.. Richardson must
have had good ground for forcing an
Investigation else he would not have
demanded 1t so impressively. If the
Democratic party is satisfied with such
leadership we suppose the remainder OF
the American people will have to endure
ii. But it strikes us that this Christ
mas investigation cuts n pretty big hole
In what was left of the political pres
tige of Hon. James ID. Richardson.