The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1864-12-31
SATURDAY., December 81, 1861


What We Need Most Of All.
The one paramount need in the ad-
ministration of affairs ct the present
time is economy. For more than three
years the war has continued at fearful
rate of expense; and from the COM
mencement to the present time. men
have been growing rich by swindling
and specializing of Of the government.
And one Of the darkest features of this
dark chapter Of corruption is. tha, a
large number-if not q majori,y-of
those who have reaped immense for
tunes in this way, are a; heart, and as
far ss they dare be. open enemies of
tbe Federal administration, and secret
friends of JEFF. Davis. Every iutelli
gent reader. who has posted himself.
kacws that very large share Of the
best government contracts have been
le, TO known copperheads. who have
never failed TO filch every dollar they
possibly could from the government.
they maliyned while pockesiug it. boun-
~.
I; is also equally we'll known that the
generals Of the Federal army. who are
also politicians. have almost invariably
grown rich by defrauding the govern
menl; and that peculations and frauds
have run riot in thsir districts and de-
partmea:s. Look at Banks in New
Orleans: .. the poli,ico military dynas-
ties at Washington. Baltimore. Cincin
uati, 81. Louis and Kansas-every
where. in fact. This same spirit has
prevailed in all departments; but under
Grant, Sherman and some others of the
regular army rko do not naeddle in poll
tics, there has been far less corruption.
The stern integrity of Grant and Ser
man has been standing rebuks to the
plunderers. and the wishe,ing rebukes
of the latter have made the thieves
scarce about his army. Would that ii
were so every where.
Now this system of plundering must
stop somewhere. We call it a system.
and it is such; for the army itself or
the affairs of the government, can hard
boast Of more system than that which
has ,obsa;aed in the army Of plunderers
Trains are reported burned or captured
BY the rebels when they are safely es-
corted tc their destinations by our
troops. and their contents-or the value
thereof-put into the pockets of the
ausrter-masters and officers in COM
mand. Private property is lost and
charged TO the government at two
prices. and the profits shared BY those
in the secret. Vouchers are given for
two and three and four times the
amount of provisions and forage furn-
ished. and the difference goes the same
way. In the meaA time the poor SOL
diers are on half or quarter ra.ions. and
the horses half starved. Contracts are
let by fsvoritism At two prices and the
margin is shared by the initiated as
spoils.
These are q few Of the ways by
which the government is constantly de-
frauded, and an immense Debt saddlcd
upon the country. We could name
instances of these various kinds o.
swindles and rvbberies. and the par'ie,
engaged in them: but it would moi
make the matter any more true OF the
evils more obvious. There are generals
nop in command Of departments and dis.
tricts, gssasse,p,a&ers in lucrative posi-
tons. and oefcers in command Of ,mpor'
sant posts, rko are to-day reveiing N the
M-gotse1 peulM they Aace obtained "
ro56iag and swindling tie government.
This is sad picture to contemplate.
but il is the unfortunate one which
truly represents. our couatry at this
iusctare. Hence, a. We said al the
outset. the great need Of the hour'is re-
formation and economy. Without these
We most fail. If the war continues
much longer.
Du, how can these things be reached?
We admit the difficulty. because the
evil has become so intimately interwo-
ven with the whole army system. and
has involved so many Of the officers in
guilt, tina, it viii be hard to eradicate
it. Yet We fully believe it can be done.
In the first place. let every general
who has charges against him. or who
is known to be politician ss well as
peneral, be removed and their places
filed by others, with the understanding