The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-23
Tho Frauds Upon the Government-The
Press md Public Men.

Press md Public Men.
The noise about the stupendous whiskey and
other frauds upon the revenue seems to be like
the smoke that rises and melts away into air
it ends in nothing As regards the party press
and high public officials the fuss they make ap-
pears to be for the purpose Of screening the
revenue thieves and throwing dust in the eyes
Of the people more than to expose and check
the frauds. The radical organs Of this city
keep up sort of see-saw on the theme, pre-
tending to denounce the defrauders at one time
and indirectly defending them at another. The
chief radical organ was silent for long time
and until lately, though the monstrous iniquity
was rampant everywhere. The Miss Nancy
republican organ here touches the matter very
tenderly whenever mentioned at all. The
party press, in fact, seems to have lost all
moral sense, and to regard the fearful corrup-
ton which is demoralizing the government and
people and threatening to bankrupt the Urea
sury as an ordinary and matter Of course affair.
The public men of the country, from the Presi
dent down to the United States Attorneys and
Congressman, are in the same situation. They
either do not realize the magnitude of the evil
or have, like the party press, perhaps, reasons
for not wishing the revenue defrauders ex-
posed.
The President himself has exhibited dis
graceful imbecility. In tho face Of frauds
TO the amount Of hundred millions a
year he has suffered himself to be hum
plugged and deferred from action by those
around him. II has been and is within his
power to suspend the officers Of government
when the laws are not executed, notwlthstand-
Ing the Tenure OF Office bill. At all events he
should have taken the responsibility to protect
the revenue from such stupendous frauds by
making a clean sweep Of the delinquent Off
cials who have shown themselves incapable OF
executing the laws. He should have taken
the bull by the horns and suspended Mr.
McCulloch, Commissioner Rollins and all the
principal officers in the internal revenue
service. There was and is not any way OF
reaching the evil but this. They stand in the
way Of investigation, and will defeat any
as long as they are in Office. IL is not
too late now. Let Mr.. Johnson act at once
and boldly and leave the responsibility with
Congress Of sustaining or defeating his efforts.
As TO the plea Of not being able to collect the
taxon whiskey and other spirits, that is absurd.
The British government collects y tax of two
dollars gallon or more. Other countries
collect high internal taxes. Why should not
| the government of the United States? Indeed,
the tax Of two dollars a gallon on whiskey
ought not to have been reduced, and IL ought
and could have been collected. Nothing can
bear high tax so well. From nothing could
so large revenue be obtained, and that with
out injuring any one. Yet even at fifty
cents gallon frauds continue as ever. II is
disgrace to the administration and country.
Will Mr. Johnson. act in the matter? win
Congress do anything 10 protect and raise
the revenue from this source2 Or must we
20 on in the same way till General Grant
handles the monster evil as he handled the
rebellion? M4