The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-07-13
Public Morality.

morning. sJ
Public Morality.
With the growing disposition to an abate-
ment of party violence there is evidently ten
dency to exact from officials an honest discharge
of their duties We have always doubted the
transatlantic dogma that parties are useful to
watch each other. Parties when organized on
principle are invaluable, but when men are
arrayed against each other by nominal distinc-
tons, they degenerate into those civil or reli-
gious combinations, which have been the
scourge of Europe for centuries. The vigil
lance with which party watches its political
foes is more than cOunterbalanced by the deter
mination to see no merit in their acts rs well
as by the evil consequences of an indiscrimi-
nate defence Of every act done by its own po-
litical associates.
This blind and unreasonng antagonsm
whilst it.has in other countries bestowed upon
party leaders an amount Of power employed
after the defeat of the foe in the subjuQation
Of the follower, has in our own produced no
other evil than the occasional elevation of
rogues to Offices of trust. where they naturally
obey their instinct and steal, leaving their adj
miring political associates to defend or apologize
as may suit their convenience.
All remember with what unwse pertinacity
the Democratic party defended the defaulters
under the administration of Mr.. VAN BUsEE.
Nor can we affirm that those who overthrow
that administration have shown altogether the
alacrity which might have been expected from
their patriotic professions, when similar frauds
have been subsequently alleged against mem
bers Of their own party.
In a party fight men will catch at any wea-
pom or employ any ally, and it is probably a
just retribution that they should be held respon-
sible for all the mischiefs which such course
may eDgender.
We do not doubt that party service is trade
in our country as it has been others, although
from the superior morality and intelligence Of
our people. it is not with US SO dangerous to the
body polite. The sage and cynic Of England
spoke Of patriotism as the last refuge of scoun-
drel;" and WALpoLE had before boosted of the
manner in which he had manufactured patriots
Without adopting the spirit Of these imputations,
!
too often happens that men who have forfeited
all claim to social confidence become warm and
active partisans. They thus extort from their
associates consideration which could not in
any other sense be extended to them.
The recent exposure Of the criminal abuses
practised by the counclmen Of New York city,
followed as it was by the adoption Of law of
reform, shows popular determination to cor
rect political evil, and determination to re-
deem the honor Of the community, with
out regard to the party associations of those
who had disgriced it. In this reform men
of all parties united, for without such an union
success would have been impossible. We
are also gratifed to see the purpose Of public
reform manifested in the articles of imPeach-
ment exhibited in the Legislature of New
York against the Canal Commissioners The
specifications in this case represent that regu-
lar agreement was made between certain lead
ers Of the Democratic and Wing parties to
divide the profits of certain contracts amongst
their respective friends. ue
It is charged that the work was let at ex-
cessive prices, and that some oft was perhaps
unnecessary. 'm .
AS this follows the crucifxion Of the New
York councillors, and is accompanied with 9
batch of signal examples in the capital punish
ment Of murderers who have been prosecuted
and hanged with admirable resolution on ths
part of the public authorities, it angurs wei
for the public morality. We regard this as one Of
the legitimate consequences Of the abatement Of
polit;sal animositss, as also of an honorable de-
termination on the part Of the people to acquit
the country and its institutions Of the charge Of