The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-03-22
Political FInanciers.

the report OF Jne laUe lnVeSIlBuuhS Nonr
mittee into the Treasury Defalcation, is
the complete vindication of the Demo
cnstic policy Of the total separation OF
the public funds from the control of bank
ine institutions. - Resolutions of the
Democratic meeting Of Saturday evening.
This is all very well, so far as it goes;
but a diligent reading of the report in |
question will lead to the opinion that it
does not, by any means, go far enough.
If that document proves any thing, it
proves that the only safe course in regard
TO the public funds is their total separa-
ton from the control of party politicians.
Something considerable of the missing
moneys of the State were lost by the way
of banks; but great deal more was lost
through ways and means, of which none
but the party associates of Mr.. BREsLIN
knew any thing about and they refuse to
disclose. 1t is poor in our Democratic
fellow-citizens thus to leap upon the
banks, and tear them to pieces, when,
perhaps, they have in their very midst the
men who have helped to put out of the
way more of the unbound cash than all
the banks in the State. Is this hue and
cry raised to turn away attention from
some shivering delinquents who have
scarcely fg-leaf between them and ex-
posureS We hope not ..
The truth is, the defalcation of Mr..
BREsLtN was needed, not for the sake of
the banks, but for the sake of the public
morals. 1t was one Of those catastro-
Plies which, while they are the necessary
and inevitable consequence of existing
practices, are intended by Providence to
call the attention Of men to wrong ten
dency, by startling them with an exhibi-
ton Of its effects. But for such catas-
trophies, an evil practice once inaugu-
rated would never cease but with the
disruption of the institutions upon which
it depends. BREsLIN was the type and
symbol of an universal propensity among
men In political life to speculate upon the
public funds. Show us the man of that
day, who, having the power, did not do
it. That which BLISS and BREsLIN did,
was spoken Of in financial circles, and
knots of party men, as fit to be done, and
praiseworthy. The politician sunk to the
level of the gambler the gambler rose to
the level of the politician. Prosperous
times, a redundant Treasury, huge taxa
ton, no established code of ethics upon
the subject, unworthy men in high places,
and what so natural as that every un.
washed hand should grasp at the ex-
chez auer? State Treasurers, and County
Trehsurers, and City Treasurers, were
rec9 9gnized as thriving gentlemen-men
safely fixed upon the summit of that tide
that leads to fortune. How? Through
the profits which they were expected to
realize out of the public moneys under
their control-in the eyes Of operators on
Change, on Third street, and ON Bake,
STREET, a perfectly legitimate source o.
rev venue Political parties took hold o
the matter; bankers became party agita
tors; and the question, who shall be thu
candidate for profitable Treasurership
was decided by the result of an inquiry
in what 'institution" he would deposit hi
official funds in case he should be elected
, Isl there any wonder that there wer,
BREsLINs in those days3 When thu
mbral bottom has fallen out of the com
mnnity, what will the first weak man d.
but fall through? In such times, it need
, no banks to aid the process-the instru
mentalities to squander will make them
selves. Bankers are but men, and it i
men that do the mischief, with or with
out corporate power, as the case may be
| 1t is written, 'Put beggar upon horse
back, and he will ride to the devil. Tn
author of this proverb must have had Al
intimate knowledge of the career of need
politicians. A man who can not manag
HIS own money, is unfit to be trusted wit
the moneys of the public. He who
incapable to accumulate for himself, ha
DO right to be considered fit fnancia
agent for the community. Our publ
affairs perpetually, and in all their de
partments, exhibit the phenomena of beg
gars on horseback. Look at our Cit
Council--a body of magnificent gentle
men, who regard it as their principal bus
}. ness to lay out money in ifties and hun
+ dreds Of thousands. Did they lear
y finance in extensive, prosperous and wei
/. lIregulated establishments Of their own
n Mighty few of them. Mounted, boote,
E spurred, and with public bankruptcy fu
. in view, they are in their glory. Who 1
D expansive as they? Entirely above scr
2. GUS business-which, perhaps, is fort
!, ! nate, as they have in general no capacit
2 for 1.-THE only occupation Of which the
! seem to be capable is spending the none
Is and taking the'honors We commend 1
our fellow'citizcns the personal inspectic
IT Of one single meeting Of our municp