The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-26
7 H E R E P U B L &C..
WASHIN GTON:
THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 26, ls4s.
TWENTY YEARS WAR ON THE
TREASURY.

TWENTY YEARS WAR ON THE
TREASURY.
It was a remark of NAPOLEON, that "you
cannot at the same time rob people and
persuade them you are their friends"
This is the full and perfect explanation
Of the present condition of the Locofoco
party; their leaders have been engaged
in the wanton and reckless plumber of the
public Treasury; they have been exposed
and driven from power. This is short
political history Of the last twenty years.
1t is not true that the military renown
and personal popularity of General HARRI-
SON in 1910, or of General TAYLOR in
184S, captivated the people and caused
the political revolutions of those eventful
years. With very large number of the
people who voted for them, their military
character was an objection. They were
elected substantially by the efforts and the
votes of the great WING party of the
Union. They were the types of senti-
ment; they embodied and represented a
characteristic of the American people
their love for personal honesty and integ-
rity. A sordid man, with the opportunities
of General HARRISON for proiting by his
public position, would have made himself
opulent. In the acquisition of $4,000, 900
acres of Indian territory; in the negotia-
,;o.n Of thirteen of the most important In
d;,n treat: es ever entered into by our Gov
eminent. n the knowledge of lands and
reservations acquired DUNG his official
career, it was only necessary for 0eherai
HARRI ON to have willed it, to become one
of the largest and wealthiest land-holders
in the United States. With a chivalrous
regard for his reputation, General HARRI-
SON adopted an honorable and rigid self
denial as the rule of his public conduct.
The people found General HARRISON in
his old age, destitute of fortune, living in
an humble position on the fruits OF his
daily toll So with General TAYLOR. The
people found in him not only a soldier
who had never lost battle, but public
officer who had never pocketed an extra;
man perfectly free from the faint of
peculation, man of high and incorruptible
integrity and honor.
As Presidential candidates these great
men represented the principles for which
the WINGS have been contending, for so
many years-the publication and reform Of
the Government. Mr.. VAN buren, was
identified with the principle of corruption,
as il had been understood and practised by
the Albany Regency in the State politics
of New York, and as it was afterwards
introduced into national politics. On this
issue General HARRISON defeated him.
General CAss was identified with the same
principle, not only as the representative
Of party, but in his individual case. His
pluralities of office and salary, his extra
allowances and treble charges, his large
accumulation Of property in the public
service, made his case stronger and more
marked than that of Mr.. VAN buren,.
The unpopularity of General CAss on this
ground contributed largely to the success
OF. General TAYLOR.
II is as long ago as 1884 that the WHO'S
made their first efficient demonstration on
the subject of official corruption. II was
in that year that Mr. Ewing brought for
ward his celebrated resolutions Of inquiry
into the condition of the Post Office De
partment. All who are familiar with the
history of that period remember the de-
velopnents elected by that investigation
The Locofoco leaders gave up the game
The abuses, REGULATIONS, and frauds prac.
tised in the Department were proved, adj
mitted, and left undefended. II they hac
been pressed home upon the LocoiocC
leaders as they might have been, the
Vines would have defeated Mr.. VAN BU'
Rem in 1896. But, after their exposure