Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-11-18
HOW REPUBLICANS DEAL WITH
ROGUES

The following article from the New
York Times tells briefly the manner in
which the republican administration deals
with rogues. When the democratic party
will have more confidence in it than they
have at present.
''The battle against fraud and corruption
goes on, not only in New York city, but we
are glad to see, in nearly every department of
the general government. The spirit of the
contest here SCENE to have taken deep hold
upon the authorities at Washington, and there
probably has not been time within the past
ten years when the energies of every depart
ment were bent with greater vigor, or have
co-operated with greater harmony, in detect
ing crime and furnishing criminals. The en-
couraging spectacle is seen of an administra-
ton SO strong in the confidence of the people
that it can purify its own ranks by the unre-
lenting processes of the law, egardless of the
appeals of political influence within its own
circles. People may well take courage for
the future, when they see the members of the
government, not only animated by desire to
do their simple duty in this respect, but
evincing unflagging public spirit and an I'M
sparing determination that the guilty shall be
condemned, let the consequences fall where
they may.
The results achieved within the past few
weeks afford abundant proof of the stern de-
termination of the President and his Cabinet
advisers to uproot and prosecute fraud and
crime wherever they are discovered. The
last notable case is the apprehension of Ex-
Congressman Stokes, holding the Office of SUI
pervisor of Internal Revenue, man not with
out strong political influence, enough in the
presence of a weak administration to have
screened him from arrest and punishment
But the Departments of War and Justice in
their Investigations put their hands not only
ON the tools who had carried out the details
of the fraud, but upon the man who conceived
its framework while occupying the honored
position of a member of Congress. The NOR
al effect of such examples must be felt in
every branch of the public service, and in
great degree among the people also. Within
the past month the calendar of prosecutions
and convictions has been unusually full The
War Department has convicted and sentenced
Hodges, and put Stokes and his confederates
10 the hands of the Department Of Justice
The Treasury Department has, through the
Departments Of Justice, prosecuted, convict
ed and sentenced two Deputy Collectors of
the port OF baltimore, both republicans and
has Just convicted an Assistant Assessor for
attempting to bfibe juror. The Interior
Department has exposed to public shame a
conspiracy to rob both Indians and the gov
ernment, duplicating a prominent officer of
the last Administration, ard is now engaged
in two other Investigations promising sim,lar
results. In Utah the Department OF Justice
is crushing out polygamy through the ma
chinery Of the civil law, after 1t has defied the
bayonets of the government tor fifty wears
The War Department is also at this momen,
engaged in important investigations GOVERN.
matters which have, like the Stokes fraud
even received the sanction Of Congress, an,
the results will be shortly apparent. Not tn
least important procedure in this direction
has been the vigor, the skill and the success
with which the Departments OF War and o
Justice, acting in entire accord, and under thu
official direction of the President, hav,
brought to light the damning secrets of tn,
ku-klux organization, arrested many of it
members. tried and convicted more than tive
score, and broken its power forever If thu