The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1871-12-22
How Crime is Promoted.


New York Sun. sth1 fst
ia Louisville, a clerk in the post office,
Il young man belonging 10 a highly re-
spectacle family. has been arrested AMI
held to bail in the sum Of ten thousand
dollars TO appear for trial on the charge
OF r0bbing the mail. The evidence
against him appears 10 be conclusive, as
several letters containing money were
found up0n his person Ut the time oflis
arrest. Such cases as this arc only too
common, as instances Of dishonesty on
the part of those employed in positions
under the general and various States
and municipal governments are bccom-
ing painfully frequent.
1t is not difficult to account for this
unpleasant and disgraceful state Of af.
fairs. 1t has, in the minds Of MANY,
come TO be considered nothing disrep,,-
table to steal from the public funds I; and
est now figure prominently in high po-
sitions, and ostentatiously flaunt the ev-
idences Of their ill-gotten wealth in the
eyes of the world without forfeiting So
cial recognition from those who assume
to be gentlemen and men Of honor. And
yet these men are moro culpablc than
the common burglar who stealthily pur-
sues his vocation under cover Of night,
inasmuch as 10 the crime of theft they
add the equally serious offense Of base
betrayal Of the confidence which has
been placed in their integrity by their
fellow-cilizens. And it is owing to the
impunity which has attended corruption
in high places, more than to any other
cause, that defalcations and robbcries OH
the part of minor officials have become
so frightfully prevalent.
A young man is appointed to clerk
ship with small salary. lie sees around
him ofice-holders living in style which
he knows their. official lxincomcs;will not
justify, and accumulating wealth by a
corrupt use of their official powers. :.
They may not steal directly from the
public treasury; but they corruptly di-
vert the authority with which they are
intrusted for the benefit Of the people to
the promotion of private interests which
are antagonistic to those of the public
at large aud they are not disgraced in
public estimation for doing SO. He sees
II bankrupt cl,air-maker in few years
acquire enormous wealth by fraudulent
and corrupt use Of his official opportu-
mites, and for long time he sees this
man pursue his career unchecked, and
by his influence rule the action Of the
legislative bodies OF his State. He hears
of the wholesale rubbclies by the car
pct-bay rulers in Georgia and Norii,
aud South Carolina, and sees that these
thieves receive the counienance and sup
port of the administration ut Washing
ton. IIo learns that the President of
tho United States himself has given im-
pOrtant Offices in return for presents /;
that hc is connected with rings az cor
rupt and grasping MS Tammany; that he
has appointed convicted bribc-L,lsers 10
places of high honor and trust; and that
during his brief term of Office he has so
used the powers iutrustcd. to him ioy the
public welfare AS TO accumulate n great
fortune for himself. Naturally the young
man thinks he is as well entitled to
make money out OF his office rs those
holding higher positions, and as he has
no influence nor authority to barter for
gold, he takes to plain and vulgar stcal-
ing. -t
To be sure, il Is no excuse for the
small fry ofthicves, or for petty default
ers, that those who rob the community
Ton a greater scale arc permitted 10 go
lunmolested. But it is certain that the
toleration which Of laie years has been
extended to practices which in the ear
lier days Of the republic would have COR
signed the officials guilty Of. them 10
eternal infany is one cause, and in all
probability the greatest cause, Of the OFF,
cial thefts and dcfalcations which have
become SO common as 10 be startling in
their aggregate. And the highly moral
and religious men who are SO blinded
by party prejudice as to sustain FOR Office,
or in Office, men who make corrupt uses
Of the authority intrusted to their hands,
arc as mnch responsible for the increase
Of crime which naturally results from
such perverted state Of public opinion
ms those who actually participate in the
distribution of the spOi!s.
|
II The Auditor Of Perry county, In
diana, publishes the following adver-
tiscment: pursuant to an order Of tho
Board Of Commissioners Of Perry coun.
ty, notice is hereby given that the scv.
cral voting places and precincts in said
county of Perry, State Of Indiana, 10.
wit: At the usual places Of holding cleo
tions at Troy, Cannelton, Tell City
Rock Island, Silnonj.s German Ridge
Rome, Cummings. Dcrbys Rono. liagi
dorns, Carnlicklc, Schncopc!, Clark