The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-09-28
STEALING.

Hero and there q small fry demo-
cratic organ sets up the defalcation
Of Paymaster Hodge, to Offset the
gigantic robbery Of the New York
democratic Ring. This makes it
necessary to devote more attention
to Hodge than that scalawag other
wise deserves. He was a volunteer
Paymaster during the war, stationed
At Washington, appointed as we'll
known democrat, which political stat
US he maintains to this day.
At the re organization of the Regu-
lar Army under Andrew johnson, in
1865, that distinguished and patri-
otto public functionary, appointed
Hodge for life in the pay department
and retained him in office in the same
position in the Federal Capitol, as
the immediate and trusted subordi.
nate of Gen. B. w. Brice Paymaster
General, also well known democrat
who has gravitated to the head Of
his department on account of senior
ity, and supposed clear headedness
and capacity in his line.
This fellow Hodge has had the
confidence Of his immediate superior
Gen. Brice and the Treasury Depart
ment, to an eminent extent, as his
Disbursements since 1862, which have
amounted to twenty nine millions of
dollars, will abundantly testify. He
has occupied the highest social posi-
ton in Washington, and has gener-
ally been considered wealthy on &C
count Of family inheritances &C., as
bis father was the assistant secretary
of the Treasury under Buchanan.
However, it now turns ont that
for years he has been rccklessly
gambling in stocks with government
money entrusted to his hands, which
fraudulent and dishonest practice he
has been enabled to cover up in his
accounts by most adroit and skillful
manipulation of figures, for a series
of years. At length he was detected,
and forthwith he was sent to Fort
Henry under irons. by tho order OF
the Secretary of War, who has just
detailed court martial to try and
punish him, which will convene this
coming week.
Hodges defalcatlon was one of
those crimes that is inevitable under
our form of government, or any other
for that matter.
Scoundrels and thieves will sneak
into the best of parties and carry
away public plumber, so long as hu-
man nature remains fallen and de-
praved, but the point we wish to
make by this article is that our au-
thorities have manifested proper
care in the protection of the public
funds, and that upon the first develop.
ment OF raacaity, the defaulter has
been pursued without relenting, and
that in duv time he will be fully pun
ished for his offence.
Look at Tammany for moment,
as the reverse of this picture. The
famous, or rather infamous, quadri-
lateral consisting OF Tweed, Hall,
Connolly and Sweeney have stolen
during about the same time Of Hodges
operations, over sixty three millions,
which they have in their besstly
lscherous pockets and in palatial
establishments. They have mortgag-
ed every dollar of property in the
City of New York to the amount Of
twenty per cent, as an inheritance
for the children of property holders.
They have increased tie public debt
from fifty to about two hundred mil
lions, during the Same time that Gen.
Grant has decreased the national
debt two hundred and fifty millions
Of dollars, and now that they have
finally been brought to bay by an III
furiated and plundered people, that
fact is owing to the persistent efforts
of the New York Times and other
Republican city papers, and not to
any disposition upon the part Of tho
democratic press or politicians, orig
inaly, TO bring the thieves to justice.
Hodge lost half a million in specu-
lations and was forthwith brought to
ooadiga p..;sa.a.a. by h;e-oy.. r~s-.
ty.
The Tammany Ring, which is
really the brains Of the democratic
party Of the Nation, has stolen di-
rectly and indirectly, at least, one
hundred and fifty millions, and is ex-
posed and brought to the bar OF jus
tice by Republican papers.
"Look upon this picture aud then
upon this"
The st. Louis Times (democratiol
says:
Ii there was ono thing more than
another under former Democratic
administrations tor which the party
was distinguished aud has gone con-
spicuously upon political record, ii
was the uniform honesty with which