The Portland daily press., 1871-01-25
The Trus Story of the Paper Credit
Frauds,
EVERYBODY TO BLAME.


publisher of that paper, in which lie speaks
with appropriate severity of the paper creait
frauds in general, but seems to us TO iall Id
too readily with the theory OF the commits
Siorers that Provost Marshal General Frye is
shieay to be execrated for the wron IS COM
mitted. We think we do no injustice in say
ing that this is the theory of the commission
srs, for at the close of their report, when they
formally undertake to give an account of the
origiu OF the iniquities, they mention no per-
son but Frye as culpable, unless there is an
important part of their report which has not
yet been given to the public. If the converse
OF well known legal maxim is true, all of
our own citizens are by necessary implication
acquitted of wrong by the express mention
and arraignment of Frye alone. We agree
with the journal, however, that the report of
the commission is sufficient foundation for
Congressional investigation into the conduct
of that officer.
We trust that the public journals of Maine,
realizing their position as conservators Of the
public veal and watchful guardians of the
States good name, will see that this is no
time for Cancellation and compliment" but
will cause it to be thoroughly understood that
the transactions mentioned in the report are
not mere venial offences-sharp but not dis
honorable acts of shrewd men who saw and
improved an opportunity to turn an honest
penny-but shamefully corrupt and criminal
deeds on the part of all concerned. Without
urging that any punishment except that of
public opprobrium be inflicted, let the people
know that all those whose connection with
the frauds is established have dishonored
themselves and their State. Let not this be
done in any vengefu spirit or from any de-
light in the detection and exposure of vilIainy,
but in order that hereafter men disposed TO
prey upon the commonwealth may know that
they do so at the imminent risk of ultimate
discovery and punishment. Among the men
mentioned by the commissioners as furnish
Ing to towns, at the rate of $50 to $500 each,
spurious names or fraudulent credits, we no
tice that there are successful business men,
several prominent politicians belonging to
both parties, temperance reformers, a journal
list, few lawyers, &C., &c. If anybody still
thinks that it was a good joke for them to
plunder the towns of Maine of half million
dollars we beg of them to attend for moment
to these considerations:
First, The half million dollars which these
men have diverted to purposes of their own
to building luxurious mansions and dispens.
ing elegant hospitality in some cases atleast-
would probably relieve temporarily all the real
physical suffering from restitution throughout
the State of Maine. 1t would feed all the
hungry, relieve the immediate wants of all
widows and orphans, and protect the INDECENT
from the cold. Is it laughing matter that
the swell to do" persons we have mentioned
have appropriated it to purposes of their own
Second, this half million dollars would effect
either OF the three following desirable pur-
1T would provide accommodations for
large part of the 1900 insane persons, who,
according to the last report of DIR. Harlow,
are suffering for the aid and comforts of a
public resort; it would richly endow the in
dustrial school for girls which is every year be-
coming more and more a necessity; it would
be most valuable addition to the much too
slender fund which the State affords to keep
our moribund common school system from
sinking into irremediable decay.
II half million dollars can be granted as
gratuity to our politicians, editors, lawyers
and "reformers," the same sum could certain
ly have been afforded to prevent suffering and
to educate the young.
But we have no disposition to bestow an
undue proportion of our censure upon the
men who seem, so far as appears from the re-
port, to be the only individuals, with the pos
sible exception of Frye and Littler, who real
lied any pecuniary gain. 1t seems to us that
while the State and United States officials, by
reason of whose complaisance or indifference
these frauds were perpetrated, were not guilty
of any criminal act either in fact or intention
they were certainly guilty Of inexcusable neg
ligence-guilty not of positive malteasance
but Of inexplicable ronfeasance. There is no
pretence that the naval commission whose
blanks were returned flied with spurious
names did not kno,o that they we've spurious
and that substitute brokers were getting rich
by selling them. 1t is not true that the re-
turns of the municipal officers were concIu-
sive upon this board, for it was invested with
complete control of the whole matter. It was
competent for it to require such authentica-
ton of the returns of municipal officers and
such proof of the validity of the claims pre-
fer1ed as it thought proper. 1t was certainly
its duty to reject summarily all returns known
to be filed out by substitute brokers who pro-
cured the certificates of town officers. Its
FINN 10
towns the credits to which they were entitled
and no more, without the Intervention of any
third party or the payment of bounties to I'M
principlcd sharpers. The order procured from
Frye allowing the credits cannot by any posi-
bility be pleaded in extenuation of the negli.
gence of the board, for that order was based
upon the report of the commission TO which
he had committed the matter of determining
what credits were due to Maine, and which
had already allowed the credits for names fur
nished to towns by dealers in those imponder-
able substances. 1t clearly appears that
everybody connected with the State Govern
ment, including the Adjutant General, was
fully conversant with the preparation of these
frauds, that they were at times aghast at them,
but that they finally permitted them to be
consummated. We believe we make no state
mem here that is not abundantly warranted
by the report of the commissioners who have
just completed their labors.
Of the guilt of municipal officers who certi-
fed that men of whom they never head and
who perhaps never had an existence had en-.
listed in the navy from their towns, there is
much in individual cases no doubt to be urged
in excuse. But in most of these cases it is
difficult to see how men of ordinary intelli-
gence could fai! to perceive that they were
guilty Of all that which constitutes the moral
guilt of perjury, and that what they did was
only saved from answering the technical de-
scription of that crime by the from moral
point of view unimportant difference between
plain affirmation and an oath. MANY of
them were confused, and many of them prob
ably did not fairly understand what they were
about. That good and true men may have
been deluded by the crafty spectators who
victimzed them may be admitted.
But there are many more who are Justly
chargable with some part of the responsibility
for bringing this blot upon the fair fame of
Maine. We have all been to blame, some
from one motive and some from another some
from cowardice and some from personal or po-
Asle"' interest in SO long ignoring the exist
enee Vi ILLS horror, and persuadino ourselves