The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-06
SENATOR MITCHELL A HALF "EX.
AMPLE

There is inevitable pathos about the
conviction of a criminal offense in the
nature of a betrayal of his trust of a
man like Senator John H. Mitchell. of
Oregon, who for twenty-five years had
represented his State at Washington.
long been generally known, but that
an actual conviction should follow
comes almost in the nature Of a sur
prise seems almost like a regrettable
outcome That a man so honored,
with every reason to preserve his per-
sonal and official integrity, should have
thrown it all away is so shocking to
the Unborn reverence for men who
have done some service that sympathy
comes invOluntarily and with sponta-
neity
Yet Mitchelfs conviction teaches a
fine lesson, draws an admirable pic
ture which will do much good. The
very fact that he had high place, the
very inducements in his life to live
scrupulously and above reproach, rem
dered his conviction the more neces-
sary to the cause of clean and good
government. We expect little men to
sin. The crime in the great is only
the more aggravated by reason of
added motive which their reputation
should lend to their right living The
fall of such d man is a pity, but his
punishment is important.
While the streets of Portland rever-
berated with the sounds of the Fourth
of July celebration, this old man, once
full of honors, now brought to dis
grace, sat in his chair nervously pluck
ing at his beard and listened to the
jury find him guilty of the charge Of
receiving money for services in the
departments and recommend him to
the mercy of the court. 1t was a
tragic scene with a dramatic setting.
How many times had Senator Mitch
ell figured as the orator of the day
on the Fourth of July? What must
have been his feelings when he sat
in the court and listened to the hub
bub of his fellow citizens on the streets
outside?
The administration recognized the
gravity of the situation as shown by
Senator Mitchell's shortcomings and
prosecuted to the memorable end. 1t
made an example of an old man in
high place which claims universal at
tention. President Roosevelt empha-
sized the fact by congratulating Sec
rotary OF the Interior Hitchcock on
the verdict of the jury. Senator Mitch
| ellis conviction was right, but con-
gratulations from the President at this
opera bouffe. With Morton holding
his place in the Cabinet because he
had frankly spoken his method of
robbing the people through a great
railroad, and protected against prose-
cution from a subsequent violation OF
law, the President might have re-
Trained. With Loomis, his word of
mouth alone to show how he got IL,
| fixed with the possession and endorse
ment of a $4,000 check while min
ister of the United States, honored by
being made the representative OF the
government in honors due long dead
hero. the congratulation seems almost
in the nature of self-Satisfied virtue
which will scarcely wash.
Prosecute the Mitchells, but let
there be consistency in frowning down
on crime and not abiding in places or
public trust any who could be sus-
pected of using public office to pri-
vate gain. Without that policy the
most sternly pilloried example" loses
sadly in effect.