The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-09
The Case of ex-Postmaster Fowler.

From &e Herald.
The action of the Government authorities IN
entering n0Re pTOSequii in the indictment against
Isaac V. Fowler, for embezzlement of the public
funds while Postmaster of New York some years
ago, has naturally excited no little comment
among all classes. With many, perhaps, the
result of this long latent prosecution finds favor
upon the grounds urged by the District ACtor-
ney in presenting the case, that the New York
public were magnanimous and forgiving. The
argument may weigh with others, that Fo wler
did not enjoy the fruits OF the defalcation him.
self, and that he was not only urged TO the com
mission of the theft by his political friends, bat
that the money was appropriated to the uses of
a political party, with the knowledge il not the
actual sanction OF the Postmaster Generals De-
partment at Washington. To our mind these facts,
If they be true, are an aggravation of the ohense,
and we are disposed to regard the matter of the
defalcation and the condoning of the otfense by
the Government authorities as great moral
wrong, dangerous precedent, and proceeding
wholly unworthy OF great, free republican Gov
ernment like ours 1t presents itself to us a n
incentive to crime on the part of public officials
What right has the Government or the political
party 1t represents to authorize the stealing of
the public funds for party purposes-a
that these were the circumstances under which
this delalcation arose-and not the personal
eXtravagances of the individual officeholder?
For Fowler personally, we have no i'll will. Ii
he was used as tool by politicians we regret
his weakness, but we protest against the prin-
ciple introduced INTO our system OF dispensing
law and justice as developed in this case The
poor man VINO steals the price of a loaf to keep
his children, it may be, from starvation, finds no
favor. The State Prison is his doom, but people
Will argue that man who happens TO be poll
tician can go scot tree for amOre henous ofiense;
in TACT, that politics, when used IN behalf of the
rullrg powers, legalize felony.
| 1t is against the had moral effect Of auph a
| course on the part of the Government that we
| protest. The case of Fowler Is but single
| illustration. This course may be and probably
has been pursued in many other cases. We
| have seen young men led aslray, in commercial
lille, into the commission OF crimes against the
community consigned TO Sing Sing for a term
II Years; which they will probably serve out,
1 while fellows who have some strong political
| affiliations and political friends are pardoned
| after a lew weeks incarcerauon. The effect OF
sucn proceedings is more demoraizing than
| commit crime of which many avail themselves
and which has an evil influence upon the en-
| tire community.
II Fowler had any of the instincts of an honest
| man, he would rather feel relief in his unob-
| served exile, conscious of the wrong he has
done, than seek to return TO the scenes of public
| life OF which he once made so conspicuous q
feature. No doubt he will be received here on
hls return with the same ecldt that the rougheI
elements OF New York society accorded TO Bill
| Poole on his decease. The sachems of TamnanJ
| and the braves OF all the Democratic stronghold,
will receive him with cordial embrace; bu
| we should suppose that the eX-Postmaster would
| prefer the lei rement which it appears he ha,
| been enjoying IN ease and comfort abroad fol
| some years past to the unenViable notoriety
which awaits him here.
The story OF this defalcation has been dead tol
| many years. The public had forgotten It, anC
4 the name Of the official defaulcer had beer
blotted almost out of memory by the freauen
cases of similar character that have since
occurred. But the whole tale Is revived by the
late judicial action, and we are reminded thereb,
OF the disgTaoeu iaet that for the past i've yeSrl
l Or more men of influence In the political world,