Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-23
Don,t Hide the lesson.

The people Of Darlington, w. and good
many other people in that part Of the country,
are excited over a case of defalcation which
they are unwilling 10 accept as a reality. Gen,
Geo. j. Stannard, collector of customs for the
district of Vermont, finds himself irregularly
indebted to the national treasury to the amount
of $4,000, which he cannot pay. The money
was in his hands, but it has disappeared, gone
out of sight and reach in some mysterious way,
for The is wholly unable to account for its de-
parture: and yet its disappearance is accounted
for, not much to his credit as we shall presently
see. The "heavv deficit in his accounts" came
TO light suddenly, few days since. 1t is ex-
planned that his ''coin account for customs" is
entirely correct. The trouble is in his account
for "fees and perquisites," which is settled an
nually. From this source, he had control of
large amount of money belonging to the govern
ment which he cannot now produce; and as
his property is not sufficient to make good the
deficit, the loss falls upon his bondsmen.
In the recent war, Gen. Stannard won repu-
tation as a very brave and capable officer He
has been greatly estee med by those who know
him; and even now the Vermont newspapers
eulogize 'the noble characteristics of his head
and heart" and praise him as generous,
brave, frank, honest, and upright man" He
seems to them incapable of crime or misbehavior
of any kind; therefore, they excuse what he
has DONE find in it an unfortunate omission of
duty but nothing wrong, and seek to have it
understood that he is still worthy of undimin-
ished admiration. The disclosure of "this sad
piece of business" has given them iuexpress-
ible pain, and affected his numerous friends
with the utmost surprise and astonishment.'
But, OF course, the "sad piece of business" can
be explained, and the explanation is given.
One paper says, it is 'the result of an extrava-
giant liieiaud liberal courtesytoward his Friends"
Another says, ''he lived extensively; he is free
handed; his purse has been open," ETC.; and
"the result is a balance against him which he is
wholly unable TO account for" 1t is stated,
also, that, while he was fast and exravagant in
his style of living che kept too little account of
his expenditures
In our judgment, this mans friends had no
right to be surprised and astonished to see him
become defaulter; and neither they nor the
newspapers have right to attack the welfare of
society, by invenung apologies for his conduct
and trying to make him seem all aglow with
virtues. His eXtravagant and reckless style o.
living was crime against integrity honor, and
common sense. 1t was unreasonable to expect
any other result Of such conduct; and to urge
excuses and Qualifications in his behalfis an out
rage to society. Under ordinary circumstances,
it is a social crime for any man 10 live beyond
his means in pursuit of "vain show" or to adopt
a style of expenditure which influences Others
10 do so. Exravagant lives and reckless ex-
penditures cause very large proportion of the
delalcations, informal thieveries, and other
financial "irregul mites" by which regulations
are dishonored and families ruined. No doubt
Gen. Stannald was, in many respects, au esti-
mable man, who never in his life deliberately in
tended to defraud anybody; but, to keep up
false show in society, he has actually taken and
squandered large amount of money which did
not belong to him; money as really taken from
his bondsmen without their consent and without
right, as if be had obtained it by robbing their
safes. Pity, if you WILL the weakness and folly
which lead to crime and disgrace; but it is
hardly worth while TO praise the man who does
such things and hold him up for admiration
Tell bis story fairly; but do not hide the
lesson it teaches.