The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-08-11
CORRUPTION IN POLITICS.


prepoAderance of. the voting Popula-
tion-naturally and almost inevitably
tends io corruption in office. This fact
Is sus< "a ihle Of abundant proof, which
may be drawn from many sources and
from different quarters of the Union,
both as reuards the Republican and
Detno,s1Asie parties, the two great po-
lstIcaf Eanfzations at present exist
ing in or country, and the principal
issue. be- ween which seems to be what
set of political leaders shall devour the
l1aves and FISHES of public emolument
and horiu T. Members of Congress now
A-days 20 to Washington penniless,
live in . style becoming princes, and
rriun 10 their tax-burdened constit-
uents pIethorfc with ill-gotten wealth,
sud often worth hundreds of thousands
~ ,llafs :; Governors of States sudden
~ groe nnnensely rich on meager sal
4Iies; : late Legislators frequently go
back to their homes rich from the cap
itaia whence they started poor; even
Judges ON the bench have been known
to rise from poverty to sudden opu-
lence, while receiving salaries barely
adequate to defray the expenses of their
sumptuous style of living. And thus
might we go on enumerating almost
indefinitely.
The present Administration came
into power with the promise of inaug-
urating a system of rigid economy, in
tegrity and honesty. \ few useless
clerks were turned out of office in the
Departments at Washington, and some
gratifying progress has been made in
reducing the public debt. So far, good.
But corruption still stalks through
every avenue of our Government, and
its demoralizing influence, sent forth
from the headquarters of the nation, is
felt throughout the length and breadth
of the land. That President Grant
is particularly dishonest we do not
believe; but we do think it was a sad
mistake which our Republican friends
made when they took a good General
from his legitimate sphere of duty and
made of him but an indifferent Exec
utive. To an impartial observer of af-
fairs, it would seem very poor way of
instituting retrenchment and reform TO
accept large and valuable presents from
political corruptionists, who expect in
retum-and, we doubt not, often re-
favors and political
preferment at the hands of our worthy
President.
But the latest and perhaps grandest
revelation of fraud yet discovered is
now being brought to light in New
York city. The New York Times, one
of the leading newspapers Of that city,
has published statements of secret ac-
counts kept by the Controller, i'm which
damaging disclosures are made against
the "Tammany Ring" the virtual head
and front of the Democratic party in
these United States. The statements
show that Mayor Hall and Controller
Connolly signed fraudulent warrants
during the years 1869 and 1870 to the
amount of near $4,000, 900, ostensibly
for repairing and furnishing the new
courthouse In support of these
charges the Times gives dates and fig
ures from the Controllers own books.
1t defies successful contradiction, ar
raigns the Mayor and Controller as
public thieves and dares them TO take
the matter into the courts. So far the
city officials have declined to do so, and
have made no explanation that tends in
the least to their exculpation.
We have no desire 10 enlarge upon
this disgusting transaction. That such
gigantic frauds can be perpetrated in
our country is at once surprising and
alarming. 1t calls for a remedy-a rad
ical and effective remedy-which shall
hurl from power the vampires and
leeches Of both parties who are now
sapping the very foundation of our ma
tional existence.
To neither of the great political par
ties of the day can this work be en-
trusted. The necessity is urgent for a
new party, composed of the good and
true of all political organizations who
really desire the welfare of our common
country. Let that party, whenever it
shall arise, inscribe upon its banner,
Universal Suffrage, Universal Justice
and Universal Honesty, and its success
will be assured.