New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-10-26
/" NOTHING LIKE LEATHER"

NOt now 1Or Ine HrSL, DuG luTOuRHouJ many
years past THE TRIBUNE has rebuked that
narrow and false craftsmanship which is shocked
| at the corruption of political adversaries, but
conveniently blind to like corruption in the
ranks of its cOmpatriOts. Time and again
have we repealed the assumption that giving
power to the Republican or any other party
would suffice to extirpate venality and pecu-
latOn. We have at some cost, exposed and
rebuked the rascalities perpetrated, under
Republican rule, in certain Southern States,
whereby their taxes and debts have been I'M
iustifiably augmented. We feel, therefore,
that it is our right to pillory for public repro
baton such demagogue utterances as the fol-
| lowing from The Detroit Free Press:
"THE EEW-YoRK TRIBUNE Ia anxious for the erection
of more elevated moral standard for those who may be
elected to Office Let begin the work Let commence
at the head with Grant, who TO be utterly obiyi-
Gus Of all moral standing in connection with bis political
or official action Let II cleanse the Radical majority In
Congress- where bribery the rule rather than the
ceptiOn. The Democrats have always protested against
the lax morality manifested by the Radicals in the selec
ton candidates for office. They have sought to have
Radicals claiming to be honest moral and religious men,
vote against unworthy candidates, but sought In vain.
Party been above honor above duty above country
and above Christianity The party must be supported,
no matter II escaped criminal headed its ticket The
moral degradation which disgraoes almost every
official position the result Of the policy Of the Radical
party in nominating men for Office because Of their
party ZEAL rather than because Of their fitness for the
position"
is it "the Radical party" alone which sup
ports unfit men of the approved stripe rather
than more worthy political opponentsf Ia 1t
"the Radical partyn only that dominates men
for Office because Of their party zeal rather
ethan because of their fitness for the posi-
"tioni" We have had blacklegs and pugilists
chosen to high Office in this City, but not by
the Radical party.
We have had men elevated to our most i'm
portant public trusts in payment for thoir
eminent services as "boss repeaters;n but they
were not Radicals, nor nominated by such.
We could say much more to this effect, but we
trust the above is enough to make The Free
Pres ashamed of its Phariseeism.
Tile Albany argus adventures a shuttle to
like effect with that just rebuked, but with
little success. It objects that the Bribery clause
of our proposed Constitution of 1857 would
have proved ineffective, since
1.-THE medicine not new to US here Our laws against
bribery make the oense selony and denounce against
II both ne and imprisonment There are on statute
Dook substantially these very provisions TO facilitate
the detection and conviction Of offenders. But through
public apathy aud private connivance, the crime goes
unwhipt OF justice"
May, Sirs you cannot find in our s. = ,'"1
against official Bribery penalties 80 sew. .....
processes of discovery 80 searching as were
embodied In that X1IIth Article Of the Con-
sitution you powerfully aided to reject Yet
more: All men may be expected to .knov
what Is embodied in the Consultation of their
State, while all men do not and cannot know
what is scattered through our ten Thousand
statutes. We are confident that not hall, the
recent Legislators Of our State who earned and
took brides knew that they we're therein conn
mibtahe IeiOnies. .-....ok 81. 10 81 uls8.s.I
4M Arous FORCES and palms upon the late
fbaddeuS Stevens The avowal, ~ know II is
AGAINST the Constitution with reference to
some Radical" measure advocated BY, him,
md prooeeds othersapOn to saya, -n,T..,t 49,.
ts 1Ha&snuNs Wilt I'd hst isbnst the vent ot Ell
piclt laws, but the contempt OF law generated In s
party wAiea now upers every political aud social u.