The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-12-14
THE DIFFERENCE.

During the fail campaign the Demo
cratic press was filed with loud and in
cessant howls over the defalcation Of Ma
jor 10 odge-Democratic politicians pro
claimed 1t from the STUMP, and the cir
| cumstance was heralded abroad as an evi
dence of a corrupt Republican admins
| tration.
Now the plain truth about the whole
matter is simply this: Major Hodge
was a paymaster in the United States
Army, a position of honor and high trust
and being an educated soldier. no asten
| tion was paid to.hiSipolitics, and it is quite
common for officers In the regular army
to claim that they are not effected by
partisan influences He was tempted,
and fell into bad and extrayagant habits,
/ engaged In most reckless speculatons,
and embczzled nearly halfa million OF
| dollars that belonged to the government.
! There is no reason to believe that he was
a natural born villain; or that his purpose
or intention WAS at first to wrong the
treasury out of single cent. There is
| little doubt but he would have accounted
for every dollar that passed through his
hands, had his speculatfons and risks
proved fortunate When ruin and dis
grace stared him In the face, and he could
no longer hide his speculations and mis-
deeds, he made full and humble con-
fession that touched every good and warm
heart with a feeling Of pity and sorrow
for his family and himself But he had
done ewrong-committed crime-and it
was proper and right he should suffer
The penalty Of the law he had violated.
Justice has been sternly and properly
dealt out upon him. After fair and
impartial hearing of the evidence, q
Court martial found him guilty and SEN
fenced him to a just punishment OF ten
years hard service In the penltentlary as
a convict.
This is the way Republicans admins
ter the government, execute the law and
punish defaulters. Let justice be done,
though the Heavens fall, is the doctrine
and practice of the Republican party.
How is it with VIM. Nj. Tweed, Of
Tammany Hall in New York city, which
is as much and fully in the hands of the
Democratic party under him, as the gov
ernment Of the United States is under
President Grant and In the hands of the
Republican party. Tweed has stolen
millions from the people of New York
city, the evidence Of the fact is notorious
but notwithstanding this, he still claims
to lead the party in that city and was
elected to the office OF State Senator at
the late election. Tweed is in the hands
of the Democratic party, and there is lit
tie hope or prospect Of IA just punishment
being meted out to him and his colleag
ues. in much greater frauds and crimes
than those Of Hodge. One by ore they
are disposing Of their real estate and 9TH
er property converting their means into
cash and stealing away to foreign lands.
L IL
can justice and that of the Democratic
party The Republican party Furnishes
tlefaulters as exemplifed III the case of
Hodge. While the democratic party
lets Il notorious thief so unwhipped of
justice, and permits him to stand as Its
candidate and elects him to an office when
the evidence Of his guilt, as one of the
most notorious criminals Of the age, Is
known and read by ali men.-Ecchdnge.