Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-07-03
THE RUTLAND HERALD.
THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1878,
.DUDEN FREREs EFT Gle"

"DUDEN FRERES EFT CIE."
The desperate attempt made by
Phelps, Dodge Sc Co. to prejudice the
public in reference to the action taken
by the government in their case, and
their quasi, or actual, endorsement by
so respectable body as the New York
Chamber of Commerce, in electing the
senior member of the firm their presi-
dent, is producing its natural results.
The fact was apparent, in their case as
it must be in all similar cases, that they
were guilty or innocent. They had
either Intentionally violated the laws, or
they had not If they had Intentionally
violated the laws, and, thereby, de-
frauded the government, they had in
CURED the penalty, and it was the duty
of the officers to enforce it. The ques-
ton of how much or how little they
made or saved by the differentiation of
goods, does not enter into the criminali-
ty of the act, and only affects the
amount of the penalty. Two courses
were open to them: either to plead
guilty and pay the penalty, or avow
their innocence and boldly demand
trial at the hands of their peers. They
chose the former course, but were not
content to let it remain there. They,
after confession of guilt, appealed to
the public, denounced the officers of the
government, the means and appliances
used to prevent smuggling, and rested
their defense, before the public, upon
their good name. Instead of defending
their good name by proof of innocence,
or want of proof of guilt, they confess
their guilt and still claim the benefit Of
a good name to shield them from popu-
lar condemnation. With the devices,
ever at hand to aid in smuggling and
other evasures of the revenue laws, it is
the right and duty of custom house Of
fcers to use such information as may be
brought to their notice, no matter from
what source it comes. 1t is not so much
an objection to the laws and system,
that spies and informers are made neces-
sary, as 1T is to the disgrac of the country
that want of commercial morality
causes them to be of any trouble to inn
porters.
They had, ii will be remembered, at
one time in their employ clerk, whom
they saw fit to discharge-as they had
the moral and legal right to do. This
clerk, either for the moiety given to in
formers, or for revenge, gave notice to
the proper officers of these ''little irregu-
larities, and they acted thereon. 1t was
the Sayings, actings and doings" of
this ''revengeful clerk, combined with
their good name, that were used with
such powerful effect in their appeal to
the sympathies and prejudices of the
people. We have been thus particular
in recalling these facts and circumstances
because its exact counterpart has APP
peared again-this time, however, unac-
companied by confession of guilt.
The government officials have been, for
some time past, on the scent of enor- |
by some of the heaviest importers of |
New York. The case of ''Duden Freres |
ct Gle, heavy importers of lace and |
silk is attracting the most attention, and |
they, too, happened to have discharged |
clerk. Upon the faith of this ''revenge-
full clerk, they have appealed to the
people, and after the leaven has worked,
as in the Phelps, Dodge & Co. case, they
propose to contest the matter with the
government. If Phelps, Dodge & Co.
had discharged clerk, who turned in
former, and they were acquitted by the
public on plea of guilty, why should !
not the same tactics work with n die
charged clerk, former good lame. and a
plea of not guilty. The only difference
in the cases is that rr.helps, Dodge & Co.
knowingly up@ .ervalued goods-that is,
IN erect paid only part of the duty
'iierr on while these lace and silk i'm
porters are alleged to have knowingly
neglected TO pay any duties at all. Thei'
revengeful clerk knew, it seems, thai !
goods did not visit the custom r : 'iie
all-probably they forgot to ir ,ous1 AZ
in the regular way-butif I 4L"' ,n .
the officers obtained - Us they claim,
from him, the firm 'aelr knowledge
49,. c. e. :, - " Of coarse, are limo
~ ~ =, law and common sense
WIN " yrtain class of New York i'm
-.ers.