, 1873-05-07

BLACK11AIL1NG AND THE Spy BUSINESS.
WHOM tho United statos Government gooH into
tho blackrnailing business it ia very likoly to
succeed, but It aoldom happens TINT single firm
will pay 9271 ,029 as penalty for tho non-pay-
mont Of 81, ,G64 Of customs duties on few scat
tcring packages Of tin platos. That Mossrs.
Phelps, Dodge 4 Co. allowed thomaeivca to DO
mulctod in this enormous sum for so trival MI
error Is almost as surprising az that tho Govern
mont oxacted it from them. a moro fagrant
outrage was never committed or submitted to In
any country, civilized or barbarous. That
Mcssrs. Phelps, Dodge & Co. did submit to 1t
can only bo accounted for on tho score Of cxtromo
terror of tho power and unscrupulousnosa arrayod
against thom. " "Anything to DO rid Of theao
dogs" WAS probably their dospairing cry
Us they handed over tho cash. Aud yet they
woro not justified in purchasing their peace OF
such price, or purchasing it at all. They ought
to haye gone into court and shown mp tho whole
conspiracy, beginning with q fa!se-hearled
clerk, running tho gamut Of cuHtou-houso
blacklogs, spies, and District Attorneys, md onl-
ing with Secretary Of tho Treasury who had no
moro scnso Of deconcy thnn to MD and nbot tho
blnckmailiug tribo in their yillainous operation.
| hlr. Boutwell, las thus put blistor on his own
| reputation; but mono on that Of Phelps, Dodge &
| Co. No petit jury on Garth would hayo given q
verdict against thom for more than the sum Of
have folt moved to indict tho rascally gang OF
conspirators who woro peraocuting thon1.
Whntoyer loss of reputation tho firm
naay have temporarily suffered, must bo attrib-
| utod to their payment OF tho enormous black-
mail levied upon them. II thoy had stood up
aud fought from tho beginning, thcre would
havo boon no suspicion of their guilt in tho
minds Of the public. Tho presumptions would
have boon all tho other way.
The c1erk who consented to botray Lis eIaploy-
ers, aftor having enjoyed their confidence and
assistance, and took advantage Of technical in
formaltiea to earn an informor's foes at tho
| hands Of the Government, instead Of report
ing tho Irregularities lie had di6cov-
cred to the firm, is, without doubt,
u ropulsive object with whom no decent
mon will caro- to como in contact. 30 aro tho
employees Of tho Government who, under tho
na1ne Of detectives, bribo clorka to botray tho
confidence intrusted to then1 suggest ways and
1neans for prying into private business, entering
business houses after dark, and institute secret
censorship over correspondence, books, ind pa-
pors. But We must go back Of these vampires
to find theaou Of the diegraceful PRACTICES. It
is in o Government that exacts q fine ofS271 1923
for unintontiona Irregularities that led to loss
Of revenue Of only GOA TINT tho main CAUSE Of
| tho spy system is to bo discovered. Tho exac-
tion Of this enormously disproportionato fino
was not intendod as q punishment for crimcs, be-
cause tho punishment would bo excessive,
and therefore apt to defeat itsolf in tho
end. Tho sum Of s2u ,023 vas oxacted at
the urgent solicitation Of tho spies and inform
ora, and with tho purpose Of dividing among
them aH large sum as possible, III order to OH
courage similar outrages In the frturo This
doctrine is q yital past Of tho spy system. 1t iH
necessary to appeal to tho greed for gan, which
is the most conspicuous incentive to corrupt and
disgracoful PRACTICES, In order to induce mon to
soil their hands with business that ronders thom
ropulaiyo to decent mou forever aftor.
The American Government has at last gone
systematically into tho spy businoss. It was put
in aotiye operation laat summer aud fall In a
politcal way. Tho uBnrpation Of authority on tho
part Of United States Supervisors and Deputy
Atarshals, undor tho protection OF Uuitod
states Commissioner Davenport, Of New
| Vru1, ~ ~ {f,o
general systom. The right to onto1
mons AoueeH, tamper with their employees, bribo
thoir scryant-g!rls, browbcat their wiycs, mud
exercise terrorism over their families, under tho
Of tAe Inv, in order to ascertain their polit
ical preferences, waB only tho preludo for boldot
and moro profitable operations. a United States
law of recent enaotmont authorizes like pro.
cocdinga with the purpose of aaeorta!ning tue
condition Of private business affairs, unlor pro.
tonse Of aBcortaining whothor any moneys due
to tho United stetoa at any formor tmo have
boon unlawfully withhold. It cannot fail to
produce race Of creatures as vile and vicious as
tho harples Of fable. Multitudinous branches OF
nfamy will grow out Of 1t. Tho principle that
uuderlos tho law and tho practice will infeat oil
kinds OF business and tho relations boswoen mall
and man II will destroy all commercial coun-
tlenco, and rontlor blaokmailing ilne art, III
which tho yilost and tho dirtleat will DO tho
adopta.
Tho Nation strikes at tho root Of this rank
growth when 1t repeats an expression made by
e1.secretery .ot the Treasury Rontwel. who