The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1865-03-23
THE DIFFERENCE.

The difference between the Repub
lican party and the Democratic party in
the treatment of public frauds is some
what striking. When the Republican
party accidentally eleyates scoundre
to office and he perpetrates fraud up
! on the people, the party expose and de
nounce him-they depose him from of
| flee if he be within their reach, and make
him refund his ill-gotten gains if posi-
/ BILE. Moreover they adopt all lawful
means to restore and promote healthy
public sentiment on the subject of moraIi-
ty in official station. They never unite
with portion of their political oppo-
nents to pass swindling bill under the
pretense of casting odium upon their adj
versaries at the expense of the people
who are injured enormously by the ope-
ration. On the other hand whenever a
Democratic Office holder is found with
his hands in the public treasury, (Which
is very frequent occurrence, the par
ry by an instructive sympathy, plant
themselves squarely i'll the way of an in
vestigation; they swear unanimously
| that he is a virtuous and prosecuted in
.1ividual; they strive in all possible ways
to keep the stolen property and shield
the culprit. Who ever heard of Demo
cratic Legislature or Congress ordering
an investigation into frauds perpetrated
by Democratic officer? No such mira
Gle was ever witnessed since the discov-
erv of America.
|. We will cite few instances in sup
port of these statements. Shortly af-
ter Mr.. Lincoln's Presidential term com
menced, it was alleged that the War De
partment was becoming corrupt. 1t was
alleged among other things that large
number of questionable gun contracts
we're out-that these contracts had been
made by the Secretary direct, and with
cut the Intervention of the Bureau of
Ordnance, as required by law. We
know that some of these allegations were
tue. We know that Secretary Gamer
oa's esignation was accepted very soon
ater these charges were made, and that
tie contracts in question were sent to a
Commission, consisting of two eminent
cnzens and an ordnance officer, who re-
qtred the parties holding them to set
itwith the Government on equitable
TENS. About the same time it was as
cetained that gang of ,oundrels had
g:hered about Gen. Fremont at St
Lois. A Republican Congress immedi-
atty ordered an investigation into the
afiirs of that department and pursued
IL tie oOttotU- "A commission similar
to lie one appointed on gun contracts
waordered to st Louis to settle the af
fai' OF the Department in such manner
as save the Government from loss
lnstigations into the Government
traaport service, into army contracts,
punase of vessels for tho navy. pur-
cha of naval supplies. the printing of
treary notes, trade with the rebel
Stas, and every conceivable thing up
on sich charge of improper conduct
coulbe raised, have been ordered by
one. the other house of Congress IRE
pubhn in both branches. and dill
gent prosecuted. Civil commissions.
miiity commissions, army courts mar
tial al navy courts martial have abound
led invery quarter. The Republican
partyhas not only sustained, but de- |
mand the fullest inquiry into every al |
legepeculation and breach of trust on /
the pe of its public functionaries, and /
no paon has been SO high in position /
that tcould escape scrutiny and expo
sure. Recently fraud was detected in I
the page Of a bill relating to Cook
count bonds, evidently designed to
give aepublican official a25, 900 which