The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-05


the Rest.
Good and hopeful people thought that after
the exposure of Tammany rascality on
gigantic scale and the virtuous indignation
that was aroused such like evils would be
checked for some time at least The theory
entertained, no doubt, was that the same law
of action and reaction and of adjustment
which prevails in the physical world would
operate in the moral world, and that after the
storm of official crime, if we may use such
simile, there would be q calm. But instead
of cessation of robbery, defalcations and
fraud among those in authority there has
been q revival, and as a supplement to these
crimes there have been alarming forgeries,
counterfeiting and heavy robberes 1t seems
that the moral disease is contagious, and that
the whole atmosphere of financial life both in
private and public circles, is infected.
Looking at the astounding frauds in public
| life, we see that they are not confined to one
party. All parties are guilty, the republicans
and so-called reformers as well as the demo-
Gratis. It is unnecessary to recite the history
of the Tammany Ring rascalities. The people
have heard so much of these and they were
on such gigantic scale, that no one has for
gotten them. Besides, the republicans, seeing
in these an opportunity to make political
capital, raised such hue and cry that the
noise is still heard The republicans, aided
by pseudo-reformers not only overturned the
city and State governments and strengthened
their party all over the country, but they have,
through the din they raised and keep up,
adroitly covered up to some extent their own
delinquencies. The Tammany frauds have
proved a ''good enough Morgan" both for
political purposes and as cover for similar
guilty conduct on the part of republicans.
On the tide of the Tammany excitement and
denunciation Of the Tammany Ring our Brook
lyn neighbors proclaimed reform. The re-
publicans and the so-caled reformers COM
bined to get control of the city affairs and
succeeded. The virtuous indignation they
trumpeted forth carried the honest people.
All became as calm as summers evening
and no one imagined any plundering ring or
consequent frauds could exist under the reform
regime But while the crimes of Tammany were
echoed and re-echoed across the East River
Rodman was at work in Brooklyn, much in the
same way that Connolly had been working
in New York, with the public money.
Both the position and the opportunity
of the two were somewhat alike.
Rodman, as Deputy City Treasurer,
held situation analogous to that of
Comptroller Connolly-that is, he had con-
troll of some of the city funds, and he seems
to have taken Connolly as his model The
plumber was not SO large in his case, though
the extent of his frauds is not yet fully
known, and he seems to have acted more
directly for his own selfish ends, apart from
any political purpose or combination. 1t is
not clear at present, however, that he had not
allies. At least, there appears to be well
founded opinion that the Treasurer grossly
neglected his duty. Rodman being Secretary
of the Brooklyn Trust Company as we'll as
Deputy Treasurer of the city, the President
of the Trust Company appears to be DESTROYS
of making little of Rodman's defalcation.
This President is an alderman, too, and. there
fore, is touched to the quick at the develop
ments which affect Brooklyn and its public
men," Crime is the same, and presents the
same evidence of decentralization, whether the
amount stolen be fifty thousand dollars or
twenty Millions or whether the parties impli-
Gated be democrats or republicans and re-
formers.
Again, let us glance at the plundering ring
of republican officials in and connected with
the District government of Washington, the
capital of the nation. The frauds there lately
stunk in the nostrils even of republican
members of Congress Right under the eye
of the Executive of the Republic, and, to
some extent under its control, and under the
scrutiny of the overwhelming republican
majority of Congress, the frauds upon the
unfortunate citizens and the federal Treasury
have been unparalleled. Considering the
wealth, income and resources of the two cities
of New York and Washington, the frauds have
been relatively much greater in Washington
than they were in this city under the Tam
many Ring. Yet if the republican party could
show anywhere the virtue it boasts, surely it
would be at the federal capital, where it
controls absolutely both the District and gen.
eral governments. Shall we advert to South
Carolina and other States of the South,
particularly to South Carolina, where this
party has had undisputed sway? The fright
full official robberies committed with un-
blushing effrontery there were known to the
whole country. Then there is Philadelphia,
in which recently the most damaging ex-
posures were made of official misconduct
under ring power. 1t will be remembered,
too, that in Jersey City lately plundering
crimes were exposed in official life which led
to the conviction and Imprisonment OF the
offenders. We cannot here refer to all such
like crimes that of late have been committed
in different parts of the country, but those we