New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-25
CORRUPTION IN HIGH PLACES.

CORRUPTION IN HIGH PLACES.
The fact that there is prevalent spirit
of corruption in the community is undis-
guisable. 1t permeates all classes Of so
ciety, and is most obnoxious where it
should least exist. The impression per-
sistently sought to be made that this
moral laxity, this abnegation of the ele-
waited and sound principles of right and
justice exclusively obtains in the Republic
can party, and among the officers of the
State government and the members of the
General Assembly, has been shown to be
erroneous. Those who are loudest for
reform-whose denunciations of the pres
ent administration have been fercest-
have been convicted Of an equal participa-
ton in outrages upon the people
In support Of this announcement we
refer to the agreement published yester-
day. Of the bank presidents and Messrs.
Keynes, Avegno & Willoz, of date April,
1869, which purposes to provide fund to
be used in bribing the Legislature of that
year to pass law making the State
assume three millions and half Of dollars
of Indebtedness to the various banks of
New Orleans. for which the State was in
no wise responsible, and by the consti-
tuition expressly prohibited from assum-
ing. The high character and elevated
social position Of these men, make their
connection with this transaction, if posi-
BILE, more glaring, inexcusable and wrong
than any similar outrages of which the
legislative history of the State furnishes
an example. 1t shows that the reform
movement is in part composed of men
who are not sincere in their pretensions-
who have been identified with the same
insidious treacheries, with the same law
less violence against the integrity and
honor of the State they are loudest in
condemning. Such notable insincerity
leaves the fair inference that the re-
formers in question have an in
sidious and Interior object, which, were
it known, would not be sustained and
approved by the people. That inference
is that they wish to gain possession Of the
State government, no matter by what
means, that they may further advance
their purposes of fraud and corruption.
We insist that this is fair inference, in
asmuch as these men discovered no pecu-
liar devotion to the interests of the people
when they sought to take from the State
treasury three millions and half of
money for which they gave no honest or
justifable equivalent. 1t does not change
the aspect of the case to say that these
men claim to have discussed this money
to assist in inaugurating revolution to
break up the government Of the State. BY
parity of reasoning, the State should be
held liable in bounty and pension for all
the gallant lives and fortunes that were
lost in the unhappy conflict between the
States. The absurdity of such PROPOSE
ton is evident to all. And yet the millions
which these huge moneyed corporations
disbursed in favor Of rebellion are held of
more account and more obligating in
honor than the gallant young lives sacri-
feed in their disloyal and revolutionary
proceedings.
No one denies that reform is necessary
in the administration of the State govern
ment. The Governor perceived it. and
urged it upon the representatives of the
people Indeed, he was the first who in
augurated the movement, and is indeed
and in truth the genuine reformer. He
saw and appreciated the fact that fraud
and corruption We're creeping into all Of
the departments Of the government, and
threw himself into the breach to arrest
and stay the mad tide which was sweeping
ruthlessly over the State. He saw that
men who had personal ends to subserve
were striving might and main to corrupt
and mislead the servants Of the people;
that high position and character would
not restrain the most dishonest appliances
if by their use such measures as the bank
ing fraud, the slaughterhouse bill, the
levee swindle, the waterworks matter,
could be rushed through the Legislature,
and made to subserve the purposes of
greedy and soulless corporations and COM
binations of individuals.
Seeing that this was the key note to
popular favor, and that the executive
could not be used to further their MERGE
nary purposes, these men took up the cry,
and, like Jealous converts did not hesi-
tate to ''steal the livery of heaven to serve
the devil in" For it is we'll understood
that their devotion to reform is pretense
and snare. They only seek to obtain the
control of the State that they may make it
subservient to individual uses, while they
trample under foot the rights of the
people.
DEMOCRATIC REFORMERs IN THE HOUSE.
The sincerity of the Democratic mem
bers of the House was put to fair test last
night, and of course found wanting. An
evening session was held for the purpose
of considering and passing the revenue
bill, and such other measures of reform as