Year: 1868

JObbery In Washinston-The Alaska Money.


We have no doubt that the stories told Of
the use Of certain part Of the Alaska purchase
merely point, for the ten thousandth time, to
what is, unfortunately, the way things are
done at the national capital 1t may not be
true that only FIVE millions finally went to
Russia, but that goodly slice of the seven
million two hundred thousand was put In the
hands of Washington banker for local use
has the highest probability on its very face.
Indeed, the banker, Mr. Riggs, Acknowledges
that he had the money, and thus the first step
in the story-the necessary initiation of all the
other steps-proves to be true as told. The
statement is that this money was put in the
hands of the banker to fee local magnates Of
all sorts-members Of Congress who had votes,
lawyers and other learned men who could
arrange points Of detail, and, in conversation,
impress members with notion that the pur-
chase was grand coup; and, finally, editors
and correspondents, who, if they could not con-
vince the public Of the advantage of the move
ment, could cease to oppose it. One Of the
local magnates, Robert J. Walker, acknow-
ledges the corn and owns that he received
twenty thousand dollars. This, with the
banker, gives two good Acknowledgements and
while two parties thus acknowledge their part,
not one of all the others mentioned has ven
tured personal denial.


The newspapers are in it deeply. The
Tribune of this city is put down as provided
for in two separate sums-one of $4,000 for
the Washington correspondent and one of
$50 900 for the ''New York Tribune" The
correspondents of the Times, World and Post
of this city are said to have come in for the
dribbling of this cash and to have secured little
sums proportionate, no doubt, to the influence
of those Sheets The Washington Chronicle,
the Boston Journal, the Boston Adoertiser,
the Philadelphia Press and the Chicago Iri-
5une are all in the list. Washington corres-
pondents are often bought, and the editors Of the
papers that are implied in the bargain cannot
helpit. We need hardly say that the editors are
seldom cognizant of the sale. Every man is
liable to be imposed upon and even compro-
missed in his business by faithless agents, and
the public doubtless knows by this time that
this is the origin of nearly all the stories of the
bribery OF newspapers. Some reporter, corre-
spondent or similar agent is bribed, and the
really responsible managers of journal never
hear of the transaction unless from the dupe
who paid the money. Thus in the above
list there is no great prejudice to any
sheets except the Washington paper and the
Tribune of this city. True, the other papers
might make the attempt to get honest men in
such important places, and it is to their re-
proach if they fail in at least making the effort.
But the Tribune stands in the number of pa
pers that were bought in this city as well as in
Washington, and it is remembered that its
very active hostility to the Alaska purchase
became very gentle and gingerly opposition
toward the close of the transaction.


Mr.. Baldwin, of the Worcester Spy-the
paper that first gave a substantial form to
these stories-is member Of Congress, and
as such, perhaps, feels that he is in delicate
position, since they have attracted so much at
tention. He, therefore, in an article given
in another column, endeavors to soften the
statements, and declares they were not made
by him. This merely means that he wishes
personally to escape the annoyance of being
held in any way responsible; it does not mean
that he doubts their truth. We hope the lob
bymen, correspondents and others will now
take notice of the fact that there is another
chanco-that n Danish minister ia IN tho wav
here to secure the purchase Of the island Of
St. Thomas, and that he comes provided with
money