The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-07-09
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND ESPIONAGE.

"a Radical Woman Of Washington
Wishing to expose the prescription and es
pionage prevailing in the bureaus OF the
several Departments there, and having 10
hope that Republican journa would pub
lish such a damaging erpose, sends the
following letter to the New York Hortd:
question if there is one person who
would be kept in office if he or she ventured
to give utterance to his or her real opinions!
Truly have We fallen upon evil times Who
dares, IN prOprtd persona, say one word OF
this accused system OF spies and int0rmerS,
which is alike disgraceful to the individual
and 10 the government? Yet so it is. Men
who sit beside you at table or desk do not
hesitate to repeat any idle word you may ut
ter. if they want place either for themselves
or friends. If lacking courage to report
you in person, they take the lowest deep OF
baseness and write anonymous letters to Mr..
Tullock, which produce inquiry instead OF
being treated with contempt Reply is
ready, proof is not desired; only the place,
To this business has the "GrAud Army Of
the Republic especially devoted itself.
Men who have never smeIt powder or seen
tue smoke Of battle, who have never
spent one day in hospitals or given one dol.
lar to our suffering soldiers, are the most
blatant They 20 to secretaries and heads
OF bureaus insisting that this and that man
shall be removed. "Wby?" He reads the
NATIONAL Lniettigencer, or says the Chronicle
is stupit, ar as know to be the fact in one
case, he attends the Methodist church south
which happens to be within half square OF
l., al. g. I,t
though he worked hard in the hospitals
being too delicate to 60 into the army-and
gave freely ofhIs limited means-he attends
the Methodist church south, ard must be- q
copperhead.
II worthless clerk is not promoted, hC
threatens his chief with "his friend" he
has islends IN the Grand Army. at is TAI
that should tell you, sir, that in the fall
shall endea'or to have yon removed" sal
one OF these Gentleman to an old burea
officer, who saved millions 10 the govern
ment during the war: adding, 81 have neye
heard of your loyalty; NO" was the re
ply; II should as soon think of declarin,
my honesty"
Now, I am thorough Rat.cal, believin,
the republican platform to be tut of Christ
ianity, but my soul turns with lo.,biag ant
contempt from this system of espionage
parslleled only in Paris in the days Of h,
French revolution. A gentleman has ina
been removed from the chief clerkship Of ,
treasury bureau, where he has been for /.
years. democrat OF NE worst str;ne
During Johnson's term he lead Ma Ill,
ence wlth democratic members >f 49,
TO protect the republican clerks IN ~
bureau. In consequence Of his exc;
not one was removed, One man was
constant fear and trembling him Il
chief clerk made especial efforts. Beho
the end For three months this man b
been working to get his friends place, u
has succeeded, with the aid OF the Mas
chusetts senator. Now, the gentleu
removed finds no fault with the secretary
the Massachusetts senator, nor does
friends. He says, ii have no claims uI
this administration Butthat one to VIII
he had rendered good service, and Fl
whom, one would suppose, he might h
expected like return should Gust him
rather poor commentary upon human
ture, even as constituted at the "Hub.H
Ny husband came home last night "
out an detected. After relating the alb
and giving me many instances of the .
ing system, he exclaimed: ~ must
away from al! this-~ii is crushing all II
hood ont of me-" | replied: 81 We
rather dig potatoes with you in the '
than have you lose ell independence
character as you are doing But, a
my enthusiasm. subsidized, as we diScu,
ways and means. Our conversation en-
with: swell, wife, we must keep on
unfliiI can save enoughto purchase q
acres." With the hope Of acceleratipg
geed time, | returned 70 him the 81,