, 1873-08-05
POT CALLING KETTLE BLACK.

There is just now sentiment going tho rounds
Of tho Republican newspapers to this efroct:
att ia not for T'amn1any to call tho Credit Mo-
bilior rascaity to account" Tammany hoIo owl
IDENTIFY stands for tho Democratic party ind
Crodit AIobilor for tho Republican party. The
sentiment is d good ono; just as good, aud
nearly as trito as il It wore said that 1t is not
for ono thief to call another thief to nccount. It
docs not follow, however, TINT tho thief should
not be called to account at all, nor docs it fol-
low that the Republican party should not bo
cnlled to account for its knavorieB because tho
Democratic party ia not in q condition
to any much by reaHon Of its own villainios.
Tho general characterization OF tho Democratic
party as Tammnny and Of tho Republican party
As Credit A1obilior implies corruption On both
sides, and teaches as plainly as possible tint 1t
III tho duty Of the pooplo to call thom both to
account.
Tho Administration preHa do not tako this
view Of the caso. They Roem to think tint,
when the Republican party is charged with
corruption, 1t is sufficient answer to soy TINT tho
Democratic party IL equally corrupt. or was 30
at tho time tho Government waa rescued from
iss handa and would DO so again if it shonld
como into power. OF this kind Of argument is
tho demurrer entered by the st. Paul Press III
tho matter OF tho Fort Smelling awindlo. Tho
facts, as the Press statcs thom, provo that
thoro was d Bwudlo and that it WIS finally
contaminated uudor tho present Adminiatra-
tion. But ample comfort is found bocauHo
It WAS started under q Democratic Adminis-
tration. Tho sale was made by Floyd, wheu he
| was Secretary of War uudor President Buchanan,
In tho Congressional investigation which fol-
lowed, thore was majority report which con-
| domned tho salo as unlawful and declared It
/ void; hut the minority report, recommending
| that tho resolutions of condemnation be lasl OH
| tho tablo, and that another simply disappearing
| tho sale DO substituted, waH adopted. Tho &C.
tion was, in clfoct, the withdrawing by Demo-
cratio Congress Of q rascally transaction UNDER
tnken by Democratic Administration. But
how can all this EXCUSE the contamination Of tho
same rascall5 transaction flfteon years lator by
| Republican Administration stoolo had agrued
to pay 10000 for tho Tort Smelling Reservation.
| lie mado cash payment OF $4,000.
Instead Of paying tho other 100000 when 1t
became duo, stoole invented delays, In which ho
was encouraged and aidol by tho ofllcials who
were III the ring. Tho aale, which was void for
fraud In tho first place, WIS sttll further vitatea
by etoolo's failures to mako tho payments whom
tAoy woro duo. This view Of tie mattor aoomod
to be accepted by tho Government. for 1t took
possession Of tho fort mud occupied 1t as before.
A good many years after, Mr. stoolo brings In q
bill Of s103, 900 ront for tho fort which claims
as bis own, deducting tho 100000. Then tho
Administration, now Republican, authorized by
Congress-, also Republican. makcs settlement
| with Btoolo by giving him full title to
| 5000 ncros Of land, half Of which llo has
already sold for 100000. Steele Ind no title to
any portion Of tho land prior to this aottlemout,
and no Court would hayo allowed him more than
tho $50, 200 Whloh 10 Lad pad, with tic interest.