Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-08-06
GaIphinisms of the Public Funds.

We have glanced over the speech of John \.
Dix, at the Ncwberg meeting of the n. Y. De-
mocFacy, and find not the faintest ausion to the
slavery issues, which are now the real questions
before the country; and such, indeed, we find to
be the character Of the most of the speeches of
our barnbuncr friends who have surrendered
at discretion to the enemy. True, there are a
few reckless, deVil-may-care ones, of tho John
Van Barren stamp who brass out their apostacy
with the most reckless asser ion, and, without
particle Of shame, appear anxious to convict
themselves Of dishonesty heretofore, or now
But as we said, the discreet ones, of whom the
n. Y. Post is a fair representative, say nothing
whatever of the slavery issues, bat put the con-
test on other grounds mainly assuming that
in the hands of the Wings the government mo-
noys will be squandered, whilst in that of the
democrats it will be carefully guarded and pre-
servcd-in Short it is, in their opinion, a contest
between the Galphins and Anti Gal phns. This
may be convenient dodge for these men. an
available heap of sand in which, Ostrich-like to
thrust their heads, but we fear will hardly an
swer the purpose Of complete concca!ment.-
John a. Dix said lie viewed this contest as an
effort on the part Of the Wings to get hold of
the public Treasury, and then occupied the time
and attention Of his audience in detailing the Gal
phinisms under the present admins tra;ion, as
Stunning if the Treasury should fall under the su-
pcryision of Mr.. Pierce, no such occurrences
would happen.
Now we ask, in all candor, what good reason
is there to hope the Treasury would be one par
tice more sacred in the hands Of Democratic
than Wing authority? We believe that Demo-
cratic human nature is not very d,ffrent from
Wing human nature-and to assume that the
public Treasury will be safe in the hands Of q
man simply because he is one of the Pierce de-
mocracy, is Introducing very novel test Of per-
sonal honesty, to say the least. That there may
be 4 general difference between the parties in the
administrative measures of government, aud that
the measures of one party may tend more TO
economy than another, is very possible; butwhel
you put an individual in contact with pile of
money, with possibility of stealing it in gen.
tocl manner, we apprehend if there is no rcStrai-
ming influence operating upon him greater than
that Of being one Of Mr.. Perce's democracy, he
will be quite as apt to GaIphinisc as any one
else.
In our opinion, the true remedy for evils of
this nature is to be found in the personal chaTac
ter Of the President himsclf. If you can get a
President by nature strictly just aud honest in
all his pocuniary transactions, the strong proba-
bIlties are he will carry those pecu!iarities into
the government with him and those under him
will be influenced, guided and governed by
such peCuliarties-at least so we infer when we
bring the matter to bear nearer home. We take
it for granted that a man who is upright, strict
just and honest in his private relations, is the
very man to take charge OF our local administra-
tive Offices AMI conduct them and on the other
hand we hope little in public life from those
who are careless, reckless, or dishonest in pri-
vato life,-and this without regard to the fact
that they are Democrats or Wings. Those who
attach 50 much Importance to the mere term ';de.
nIocracy," to guard the public treasury, would do
we'll to look at the constructive mileage swindc
They will find there something like two Demo
Gratis to one Wing indulging in this inaxcusable
plumber, and something like seven Wings to one
Democrat refusing it and it behooyes them too
to account for the Swartwout. IToyt, and other
similar extensive robberies of public funds. 1t
is, as we said, matter depending upon the pri-
yato character of the President, and has very
little connection with the professions or success
of either one party or the other.
Now what evidence have we to believe that
Mr.. Pierce is the man Of all men to guard the
public treasury? Is his private character really
snch as leads to that conclusion? From all we
can learn, publicly and privately, we infer Mr..
Pierce to be one of those careless. good naturcd
lazy sort Of individuals, who never take trouble
about what is owing to them. or what they owe
to others. Sufficient for the day, says he, is the
evil thereof. Let tomorrow take care Of itself,
as today has. Such appears &c be Mr.. Pcrce's
philosophy. Yctthcse individuals seem to anti
cpatc that Ajr. Pierce, as President, is to sud-
denly become one Of the most careful guardians
Of the Peoples money; is to do for them what
he has never been willing or able to do for him
self, and that is to guard their pecuniary interest.
IN able ana candid Massachusetts free soil pa-
per, after the nomination of Pierce, and before
the nomination BY the Wig Convention, spccu-
la'ing upon the action Of the latter, talked as
follows:
Webster would probably manage the for
cign affairs bestof ali; but in regard to the in
terual affairs Of the country-in relation To res
possibility, economy, order and accountability
he would stand, probably, at the bottom Of tic
list ami Pierce next, while Scott, with his high
personal character fer honesty, and his habits Of
order and discipline, would stand at the head"
This paper, it will he seen, without particle
of preference or prejudice, (Judging from its po-
sitye knowledge Of the character Of the two
mc0.) puts Pierce Ito the bottom of the list,
and Scot at the top, in the matter Of which we
speak yet these Democratic orators and papers
wish the people Of this nation to take it for grant
ed-if we will but stamp the word "Dsmocracy"
~ ,r1.-i,,.r coDitoi. cvor ,h, lo1- oC 49,, ,tE.