Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-06-24
BAKER, THE DETECfIvE.
The booth and surratt Mystery-
A New Picture of a Lying
'ft Rascal by Dom Piatt. n (.

From tho Mack-a-check Press (Radicap, Jun'
The business Of a detective, howeyel
necessary it may be, has never been re-
garded as the most reputable. Whether
it can be regarded otherwise than despi-
cable, depends altogether on the charac'
ter of the detective. In Europe, where
the system, both political and of the
police, has been carried to almost per.
lection, the first quality sought for in the
detective is honesty. He is intrusted
with so much irresponsible power that
unless he is possessed Of the highest in :
tegrity his Office becomes the means oi
carrying out what il was created to sup
press ~ 2 y lDo SO" +4t-A HA-
In this country acting on the old max
i'm of setting thief to catch q thief, we
suffer more from our police, and especi-
ally the detectives, thaH we do from the
rogues. And in all cases where the
honest man gets into trouble he had better
go over to the enemy at once, and seek
safety among the thieves. He may in
that case lose his property, but he will
save his temper and be relieved of much
aggrayation and disappointment.
General Baker (Brevet Brigade Gen
eral-God save the mark is represent
alive man. He is an American detective
From among thieves he was selected as
the thief to catch thieves He9hss the
distinctive features and qualifications of
his calling. OF this he boasts. 1t is his
pride of character. 1t is said that Gen.
Scott first appointed him, and if the old
General had been questioned why, he
would have responded, because sir, he
is the most active, intelligenb adroit ras
cal thatI know off, lFor The same
reason the Secretary of War, Stanton,
continued BakeE in Office. We can see
the grim smile with which the sardonic
Secretary would dwell on his creatures s
utter want of conscience and honesty.
. Itwas grave error. Another blot has
been left upon the Secretary OF War, and
a lasting shame on our Administration.
Brevet Brigadier General Baker has
rushed into print. He has made book.
And since the publication of Barnum's
Confession aud Wykofs Courtship, no
such shameless volume has appeared.
Recollerting General (Brevet Brigadier)
Baker s qualifications as q detective, we
may appreciate his qualifications as an
author How many lies are we to have
to the square inch ? That is the sues.
ton that must animatethefeading world
on taking up this volume.
We never could make out what the
late and lamented Mr.. Lincoln wanted
with detective system at all From
the hour Of his first inauguration up to
that of his death, the thieves we're all in
Office. Excepting Messrs Chase, Stan
ton and Holt, it was impossible almost
to lay hands on an official and not touch
q man made rich through his position.
This was especially the case with the
moneyed Offices. Honest men stood
aghast at the impunity with'which steal
ing went on. All cries Of shame and out
rage seemed unavailing. All opposition
was thrown away. Thieves we're turned
out to be succeeded by thieves, and o.
lossal fortunes were made in an hour.
The smiable old President cracked jokes
over the rascalty, and said that in his
appointments he had to run his hand
into a sack of snakes to find one eel
Among the latter acts of the Congress
that preeeeded his death was an. inyes-
tgation Of the cotton frauds, and out of
a great number of permits to steal, three
fourths we're signed by the President.
We know that any quantity of timid
men will demonstrate at this. as likely 10
injure our party. We think differently
aud firmly believe that the only hope We
have to hold our governmentint in the hands
Of loyal men, is 10 expose the rascalily
and drive out the thieves. To remain
silent is to connive at the frauds and
proteot the rogues - Ef - lsI
To return, however, to our mutton
very tough, and tainted at that We open
Brevet Brigadier General Bakers book,
with the same feelings We take up dying
speech and confession, believing that all
that is interesting Is not true, and all
that is true is notiuterestiug, and We fiud
il from beginning 70 end about the dull
est performances Il has been our misfor-
tune 70 meet vita We turn ct once 20
that part which treats Of the assassiaa-
ton. In il we fBd, If anywhere, the
uses Of our rational police, and the net
purpurt and Rpshei Of the much vauated
detective system And the result, % use
= slang term, is nix" II, asis claimed,
a great conspiracy existed, originating
in Richmond and encouraged in Canada,
q. .-.,t ,, uu1er the NOSE of Rrnvef /