New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-28

were imposed. and BY which change they
not only gained in time but saved enough
in money to pay the additional cost OF
transportation. This corrupt condition OF
things in New York was found, upon inves-
tigatiOn, to be only in keeping with the
general conduct of the government in other
parts Of the country. The vital interests
of the nation seemed to be neglected by the
President. He appeared to be engaged In
peddling federal Offices to special classes OF
his friends with a view always to some
special object, and not for the general good.
His movements smacked too much OF the
accumulation Of personal power, looking TO
another presidential election. SO the peO-
pie viewed it.
The press and the people now began to
take a deeper interest in the working of the
government and in the movements of the
administration in its official conduct An
active minority in both houses of Congress
placed themselves on guard and held Sc
we're check-rein upon the majority. Com
mittees of inquiry were thus instituted, and
the veil was lifted from over the concealed
Oficeholders and contractors in the navy
department, interior department. pOstOtfice
department, State department and treasury
department. The evidence elected and de-
VelOpments made through the press, from
day to day, aroused the people to more
determined feeling for national reform.
The picture presented was lamentable in
deed.
weak president, surrounded by his in
feriOrs, with few exceptions, and the ex-
ceptions not much superior, intellectually,
to the principal
A policy to establish, if possible. per-
sOnal military government at whatever cost,
to the end that L. S. Grant may be cOntin-
ued in power, with his army of federal
oficc-holders at his heels.
Relatives and gift-Gfferers placed in the
most lucrative and responsible positions
under the government, regardless of their
qualifications for the faithful performance
Of duties required, or an expression Of anAi-
ETY. about their respectability or honesty.
1t was generally observed that the gov
eminent was administered everywhere
upon the corrupt principle established at
Washington, and practiced in New York.
AS the fountain was impure so were the
streams flowing from it.
The federal offices seemed to be wholly in
possession of corrupt men; systems of rob
berry were organized i'll many Of the gov
eminent establishments tue public busl-
ness generally was greatly embarrassed
commerce was retarded system of eX-
tertiOn was imposed upon the merchants of
every city where there was a custOmhOuse;
widows and orphans were cheated by pen
sion agents unnecessary taxation was im-
claimants against the government we're
robbed of their just dues by black mailing
officials a corrupt attempt by the Presl-
dent was made to influence Congressman
to endorse his San Domingo speculation, at
the expense of denatiOnaliZing the neigh
boring weak republic of Hayti; encOur-
agement was given to the bOndhoiders,
landhOlders, railroad mOnOpOhsts and
banking corporations of the land, to the
10 - no 4 linz IN
ductive and IabOring classes the levying
of a corrupt aud dangerous system OF tax
alton or extOrtiOnate assessment was made
upon the employees of the government to
be used, when not converted to private
purposes. for the manipulating OF political
Caucuses, primary meetings and State con-
ventiOns, and to corrupt the ballot box, to
the end that the honestly expressed will OF
the people might be defeated and cor
rupt administration be perpetuated; the
introduction of the federal soldier with
musket and bayOnet, at the polls, i'll times
of peace, to intimIdate the unarmed, honest
citizen in the constitutional exercise Of his
will as freeman the attempt 10 pervert
the government from civil to military rule,
and continue, in a time OF peace, the arbI-
trary condition of things only justified in a
republic in times of war; the practice of
Selling government buildings for political
caucusing of interfering, contrary to law,
with the sacred right of citizens to meet and
deliberate in State elections; the tendency
of the President to dictate terms to the
Senate, thus Gepriving the nation of the
services upon important committees OF such
statesmen as Sumner, Trumbull and Schurz;
the coward policy, stimulated by Spanish
gold, Of encouraging SPANS despUtism over
the struggling people of Cuba, who are
only prevented from achieving a national
independence by impediments studiously
thrown in their way by President Grant
and his Spanish secretary; the organization
of European syndicate to perform sim
pie duties which belong to the Secretary of
the Treasury, who is employed for that pur-
pose; a disgraceful surrender of all claims
under the treaty of Washington" for ''lDdl-
rect losses, humiliatingy backing down to
England, at the dictation of British bond
holders, aided by a conspiracy Of which
the Syndicate formed the nucleus.
In brief, at the time alluded to, the out.
look presented a complete PerverslOn OF the
entire machinery of the government from
its high legitimate purpose, as originally
designed by the founders of the republic, to
the lowest standard of corrupt and danger
Gus ideas and practices.
This was the view in general which the
people of the United States took of the
situation of their government as they near
ed the field of the contest for a President In
1872. Honest men in the Republican party
were called upon last year to denOunce the
cOrruptiOns or Tammany. With the knOwl-
edge which they possessed of the rascal
ties in their own party they could not con
sCientiOusly condemn the Democrats. The
result of this awkWaTdness was the con-
sultation of leading men of all parties. In
New York City this proved successful. A
reform party took possession Of the govern
ment. In the State of Missouri party lines
we're sundered, and the State government is
now in the hands of reform party. The
organization 10 Missouri, at the head of
which is b GratZ Brown, as Governor of
the State, then initiated in the nation the
great Liberal movement which took place
at Cincinnati on the first of May. After the
call was issued and before the assembling of
the convention, there was much speculation
in the newspapers of the country and among
public men, about what wOnld probably be
the conclusions Of the convection, who
would be nominated, what the platform
would be, and what the Democrats would
do in relation thereto, etc. This specula-
ton settled into anxiety, and leading men
sought each other at all times and in al
most all places where private conversation
could be had. The interchange Of opinions
were thus obtained. Many leading Repub-
licans, before entering the arena for national
reform, were anxious to ascertain how far
they would be supported by the Demo
cratic party. Journalists, before casting
their all against an INSCRIPTIONS and power
full administration, were deslrOus of know
ing whether men, Democrats as well as Re
publicans, who talked ftppantly in private
conversations about what they we're
willing to sacrifice and do to lid the
government of such an administration
would stand up to the work when the real
fight came. To this end many private and
confidential conferences were held daring
the interval named. Washington proved to
be an innortant centre in this narticmlar.