The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-01-27
Corrul,pItion.lin l 4 IN WashinKton.

[ Corruption:4n :4n Washington. :: ::
from Correspondence Cincinnati Commereiall
| It sounds, like I;axaggeration to say
that the entire serVloe Of the Govern,
ment is rotten, lRpt such is tho fact,
and one trcating,0tGthe subject 10 pnz-
zlcd and appalled, sby its variety and
extent. lie scarcely knows whcre to
begin, md finds that thoro is no end.
And here anotherdifflculty attends tho
reporter. lie works up ono piccc Of
inlquity and spreads 1t before tho pub
| lie, and tho indignant public scizes on
that, and follows itap In blind wrath to
tho exclusion of0yery thing olsc. And
so fifty rogues laugh and steul while
ono rogue is bein2irun down.,
| Just now we Az. attNys 10.
tTo read the daily Journals ono would
suppose that the railroad rings had
monopolized Washington, and If we
could only drive thcm out, We would
be safe in tho promised land, and could
lie down and sleep the sleep Of inno-
ccnce and peace. To give away tho
public land, and create huge monopo-
lies Is bad enough, but this is the
smallest iniquity after all. The lands,
to be mado available, havo to be sold
and settled, and before they can be
sold and settled the railroad must be
built. And, although wo have squan-
dcrcd tho public domain, filled the
pockets Of the rins-and created n
huge monopoly-yct there is some re-
turn. But from tho whisky ring that
runs the Treasury; the National Bank
ring, that robs the Government while
skinning tho people; tho manufacture
ing monopoly that lives OIL bountics
voted by the Government; the Indian
Burcau ring that fills it's pockets with
money stained by human blood, there
is no return. For these, penitcutiaries
arc built in vain, the gallows stand
idle, and hell alone yawns ready; while
our Government is run by them and
socially they are recognized. and wives
and daughters, in moirc antique, silks
and satins. amidst stunning uphol-
Stcry, receive in smiles, and arc bowed
TO with profound respect.
Come 10 Washington, if You want to
make conSOrt with these thieves. They
thronS the avenues, fll the hotels,
crowd tho lobbics. and, like million
OF rats about rotten crib, or sharks
around = stranded whale, they cat, and
fight, and gorge.
If an Indignant public singles ont
one, to run it down, all the rest join in
the chase. This is n part of the game.
While one is being pursued, all the
rest steal unnoticca. And the game
Just now is TO run down the railroad
ring. All over Washington you hear
these houuds--cach standing over the
plundcr he hidcs-howling in wrath at
the railroad ring.
And, in our blind zeal. we arc Just rs
apt to do Il wrong as to accomplish any
! good This is the danger now. In
this railroad business we do Two bad
thingS-wc squandcr the public do
main, and We create huge monopoly.
AS ! said before. we get some good in
return. by having the lands sold and
settled. Now. in the one line Of rail-
road to the Pacific. we have done all
that we could TO create huge monop-
oily. The next best thing is to break
il down-and il, in so doing, we waste
more domain, we only pay the price
cxactcd for our own folly. Let us
pause for u moment in the midst OF
our virtuous Indignation and calmly
reason about il.
If in creating 4 competing line OF
road, over confcsscdly the bettcrroutc,
VIC break up the monopoly now so
justly feared, would We not be giving
the land for something like fair re-
turnI
We all look forward to the incoming
administration to remedy the evils that
now atllict us, precisely as girls look
forward to their duy Of marriage, as
the beginning Of happiness, and with
about rs much reason. The fnct is, the
service is rotten because the people arc
corrupt. The ring-mastcr who retires
on his il!-gottcn gains; the office
holder who goes in poor, and comes
out rich; the foul contractor who fat
tens or frauds, all float into social
recognition on their money. The slow
unmoving finger Of public scorn Is
fixed only OH. the rogue when the rogue
is poor. We yet believe that our moth
ers nrc chnstc and our fathers honest.
We fondIy hope for some legislation
that will amend tho evil. We look for
one man to come, in the modern Hcrcu.
lea, and sweep out tho filth. And
therein we will find the place to stand
on, and move the world.