The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-06-09

Corruptlsn In OmciaI Pssitasa-A Lssssn
nroa ysha Dull.
When corruption has invaded ofacial posi-
ton everywhere, a. seems to be the case ct The
present time, the sudden appearance Of IN In
stance of honor and honesty In high places
comes, like a rose In the desert, with an en-
HANGED beauty and fragrance.
The Developments of our own investigating
committees reek in the face Of the Community;
but those recently brought to Light In Austria
surpass anything that We have yet exhibited.
As general thing we do not doubt that the
extent of corrupt practices In Europe, and par
ticularly on the Continent, surpasses anything
that We can yet show. Russia has long been
known as thoroughly stepped in official cor
ruption; the Eynatten frauds leave Austria
without the shadow of claim to
honesty in official position the Crimeas
Committee disclosed disgusting state
of things in the contract department
of the English government; and the
operations of the Credit Mobilier in Paris have
always been considered as intimately connect
d with official turpitude, although no invest-
eating committee washes the dirty linen
of the empire in public. We believe it may be
Get down a. general principle that al the
monarchical governments of Europe are more
inbued with official corruption than IL our own
republican form, bad a. we have come to be,
although q recent occurrence In the British
House of Commons leads u to suspect that, 90
far as regards lack of honesty in legislative
bodies, we surpass our English cousins.
The case we refer to Il an accusation brought
against Lord Clarence Paget junior Lord of the
Admiralty, of being partner in ship build
ing and owning house, and therefore an i'm
proper person to open contracts. His lordship
met the accusation at once, and in manner
which reflects the highest honor upon him. We
republish the debate in full In another
column, as q worthy lesson to our own
members of executive and legislative bodiea
We commend the observations of Lord Paget
to the consideration of the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States, and par
ticularly to the attention Of those members of
Congress who may be more or less interested
in claims before Congress-railroad schemes,
land grants and mail contracts-by corporations
(which they are members or attorneys. A
study and q due regard on their part of the
motives which induced Lord Paget on one
occasion to decline Official position, and on
another to sell his property alta sacrifice that he
might accept it, would not only improve our
legislative bodies, but would go far towards
giving healthy tone to public opinion, and
checking the spirit Of corruption which now
pervades official position among us, whether it
be high or low.
The present acts of Congress aud State laws
TO prevent de1iment to the public interests in
such matters are not as full and as
explicit as they ought to be. 1t should
be made a felony for any executive
or legislative officer to become person
ally interested in any matter in relation
to which he has any official power or which
ID pending before any of the public depart
ments In which he may have official influence.
An equal evil to the incompleteness of our laws
exists in the laxity Of public sentiment in rela.
ten to official corruption. The public itself
might check q large portion Of the mslprac-
tees by visiting with a proper Reproduction
the cases of interested action on the part Of
public officers which do come to light Not
only do these not receive that condemnation
which they deserve, but they are tacitly i'd
mitted to be smart things, aud the man who
makes fortune through them holds up his
bead among US without blush and without re-
buke. Even more: this came public openly
consents to the framing of code of libel laws,
by these very peculatiDg and corrupt Legislators
and officers, under which the public Journalist
who exposes these infamous practices Is pro-
nounced guilty Of felony, and incun the risk
of serving term In the State prison, while the
true felonies 60 unpunished, and even unre-
proved. 1t Is time that public opinion should
begin to move In this matter.
OFFICIAL RECEPTION OF THE JAPANESE IN New
YoRK.-we publish to-day the official pro.
gramme arranged BY the Committee Of the
Common Council for the reception Of the Japa-
nsse Embassy, and also description Of the
manner in which the Messrs. Leland have
prepared quarters for the guests Of the city.
The Ambassadors may be expected here about
the 18th, and sightseers from the provinces