The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-26


whatever of disloyalty remains at the South.
Whoever regrets "The Lost Causer will be
inspired by these removals to hope that it is
not lost-that, in essence and substance, there
is yet chance for its success. So the good
werk of pacifcation is to be arrested, while
hate and bitterness reign once more at the
South, exciting like impulses at the North.
Mr.. Johnson's desperate expedient will fail;
butt will meantime distract the South afresh,
and convulse the whole country. Hence we
deeply regret the fOreshadowed Cabinet
changes, not because Messrs. Seward, Welles,
ETC., are to go out, but because the accession
of their successors is a triumph of the baleful
influences which are still tanning the embers
of our great civil war.
Secretary m,CunOch and the Treasury
Department..
From the ". y World.
We devoutly trust that the predictions of
thorough reorganization of the Cabinet may
come true. Mr.. Johnson's Cabinet, as a whole,
does not possess the confidence of the country,
nor of any political party. This has been the
case from the beginning of his administration,
and it is one of the chief reasons why the
moral influence of the Executive has been so
nearly annihilated. Mr.. Seward has, for
years, been detested alike by Democrats and
Republicans and yet he has been the Pres-
dents most influential and trusted adviser.
The President is happily rid of Stanton, at
least for the present and after Seward and
Stanton the remaining members of the Cabinet
are without political influence, and most of
them without special ability. Ii the Treasury
were not in the condition in which it happens
to be at this crisis, we should favor an entire
change in the personnel of the administration
but under the circumstances, we must make
reluctant exception in favor of Secretary
McCulloch, for reasons which we proceed to
state.
The whisky interest that is to say the
fraudulent portion of it, which is the most
powerful and influential is suffering severely
from the stringent measures inaugurated by
Mr.. McCulloch to prevent frauds and increase
the revenue from that source On July the
Metropolitan Revenue Board commenced it's
operations in this city, and the total amount
OF the tax collected OH distilled spirits drawn
from bond for the month of July was $l34, $40,
against $5l, 1886 for the month of June, show
ing the enormous monthly gain of $S3, ,474, or
an increase OF nearly three times under Mr..
McCulloch's new system. The receipts for
the month of August will be about $l75, 900,
or an increase of three and half times the
average monthly receipts before the Metro
politan Board existed. This enormous in
crease ia so short a space of time has taken
place also when a number of the legitimate
distilleries are closed, and others are running
at only half of their capacity. In plain terms,
the whisky interest last month has to thank
Mr.. McCulloch for the loss of $S3, ,474, or
at the rate of a million dollars per
annum, in this city alone, which is just 50
much gained by Government. The additional
revenue gained by Government in this city for
the ensuing year will not be less than
Sl,500000 up to 81 100000. The active MEM
ber of the Board is Colonel Messmore. Gene
raj Hillyer Of General Grants staff, is Chief
of the Revenue Agency. As General Grant is
the warm personal friend of these two gentle
men, the whisky fraud business may be
quoted, in Wall street phraseology, dull
and heavy, with downward tendency just
so long as the present Treasury Department
arrangements can be quoted 'actlve and
strong, with an upward tendency"
These figures show that the whisky interest
can well afford to spend much money, and
even to run a newspaper of their own, 10
hound the Secretary of the Treasury, If they
can only succeed in getting Mr.. McCulloch
out of office, and putting therein somebody
more pliable. So much for those VINO are
clamorous for change in the Treasury De-
partment.
The World is not now, and never has been,
the advocate of Mr.. McCullOch or his poncy'
we have at all times, and do now, cheerlully
accord him the virtues-eBsental in cusIo-
dian of the public purse-of integrity, pru,.
dence, and patriotism in the administrator ol
the affairs OF his department. AT the same tlne'
we dltier from him widely in many lmporIanV
points. And yet we deprecate any chanse ~
the head of the Treasury Department al tIe
present critical juncture in affairs. IL Wo1lu ~
be hazardous experiment to change even .I ioi
better man. A calm consideration Oh tne
past, and the probable contingencies consequS5n
on a change, will assist in forming sound JUG,
ment on this matter. 1t must be borne III ni,n1 II, |
as fact whether deservedly so or not Is ahoIneI
question, the fact remains the same Vhay @ Vno
press and people of the United states Iato S
given more approval and less disapprovSi "
Mr.. McCulloch and his official acts, @ DoIn ." 3
Comptroller of the Currency and Secreta'y ~
the Treasury, than to any other ohcer VI ~
Government since 1864. Europe mas euio !.N1
gized him and his acts, as well as the Oni.oO ll.o
States. His resignation, therefore, sliiusS iua"t
neously with rumors of frauds in MS "a dePa ,s
ment, would certainly shake mercantle 9;. oon
fdence. and iniure our Government cIeoC
both at home and abroad. 1t would give
colorino of truth to the rumors OF the Irea-
snrv 9anartnant frauds. Any important
change in the Treasury Department IN the
,n,.asaS1t condition of affairs here and In
EEnrone. would be very apt to cause shipments
of orr fve-twentv bonds from Europe to be
oa,,o'.na " 80 ~ cold from New York. If this
should follow the resignation of Mr.. McCul-
Iocb and IL is more than probable that 1t
wonId then the price of gold would jump up
nat1,ralIv and speculation would have no diff
6cnltv in plaoine it at once above 200. Are
ouP bankers and merchants, are our Govern
rnent finances, prepared for these eyentuali-
ties Can New York sustain heavy receipts
f.o,,, E,1rora anaoia shinments 10