Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-03-22
Official Corruption

Official Corruption.
Fraud and peculation, dishonesty and
corruption in eve ~ possible form, have be-
come SO common that they have come to
be considered almost inseparably incident
to oflice-holdiDg. In the better days of the
Republic charges Of official corruption
against high public tunctionarjes were
promptly repelled and generally disproyed.
The slightest insinuation against the in
tegrity of a public man was sufficient to
make him demand, Il matter of right
and justice, Il thorough full and complete
investigation and c1poac cf bis official con-
duct.
The result was, that honesty being The
rule and dishonesty being the exception to
official conduct, mere charge Of official
corruption was not sufficient to affect the
reputation OF even the hr1mblest public
servant.
1t is matter Of profound regret to every
true man 10 know that this stale Of things
no longer exists.
Investigations are now no longer sought
by accused officers as measures Of simple
Justice TO themselves, but are obtained on
ly after long and persistent clamor by the
accusers.
The Senate Of the United States, CON
trolled blythe friends OF the Administration,
resisted for weeks the demand for an in-
vestigation into the frauds committed by
the officers Of the Custom House in New
York city: resisted for weeks the demand
for investigation into the unlawful sales of
arms to a Foreign Government at war with
another friendly Foreign Government.
Investigation, open, publIc investigation,
so long regarded as a sure and trusty
means Of defence, isnow regarded and used
only as weapon for attack.
From this but one result could follow
the Srayest charge against the highest dig
nitary-if, indeed, the word dignitarv in
this day and generation be applicable to
any Office holdcr-ncetls only 10 be made
to be believed.
Nor can it be said, trlthfully, that this
state Of things results from pruricnt, de-
PRAYED, scandal, slander-loying public sen-
tiInent.
1t results from continuous accunula-
ton and aggregation ofproof, that, incrcas-
! ing day by day for years past, has at last
olI'eh from Tue ile''r'7 o' l"ei' all ne''el III
official integrity.
\ Or do we, in this connection, refer e5-
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celp1s and vouchers iof inc pFocecdS vi 'l'e
salue. a.
Mr.. Postmaster General, Cres>y,II. is
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VIGOROUSLY coilli''on lulilol H''il i' ''i'
head OF 'he "hlshey hlns'
But Mr.. Secretary of the \ avy, Robeson
the iolIy New JERSEY tar, if one 1.-THE of the