Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-11-13

! has not only been an absolutely less
less rate Of defalcation, when taken
on percentage, but there have never
been fewer defalcations in number
when compared with private bust
ness. Since the beginning OF Presi-
dent Grants second term, there have
been more defalcations discovered in
in the city of Brooklyn alone than
among all the Government officers
of the United States. This is very
remarkable, considering the example
of extravaganza and violation OF
trusts set to the executive officers by
the last Congress when they voted
q million and half dollars for back
salary, which action has been go
sternly and uniformly rebuked by
the people.
Efforts have been made by large
number Of influential journals to
fasten some degree Of completely in
speculations upon the President,
General Babcock, and upon all the
members Of the Cabinet, but in not
a single case has the evidence sus-
tanned the charge. Many Congress
men were implicated in the taking
of Credit Mobilier stock, but not a SIN
gleexecutive officer. While it Is right
and just that the people should strive
to secure the highest attainable ex-
ccllence, we question the pr0priety
OF the methods which are usually ia
ken to secure that attainment. In
discriminate denunciation Of public
officers, while it dulls the public ear
upon the one hand, has a tendency
to drive the best and most conscien-
tious men from the acceptance Of
public TRUSS; and we believe it to be
fully as much duty of the indepen-
dent press to speak well Of Govern
mcnt officers, national, State, and
municipal, when they deserve it, as
to censurc them in case of unfaith-
fulness.
1t Is true there are many men
some unconsciously influenced by
personal aspirations, others by n dys-
peptic temperament, and others by n
greedy desire forSflice-who take a
gloomy view of national affairs.
They hold that the Republican party
has become SO corrupt that It cannot
purge itself, and that, therefore, a
new party must be formed, cOinpos-
ed, as they claim Of the best ele-
ments Of all parties, to carry on the
Government. In the first place, it
should not DO lost sight Of that the
Republican party is the majority of
the American people, and if this ma
jority have become hopelessly cor
rupt, we have no evidence
that the minority outside that
party has attined higher stand
ard of moral excellence. Com
plants are also made against
ring, caucus, and party des-,
potism, but we have nowhere seen
suggestions whereby the machinery
Of primary conventions or elections
for the purpose Of selecting candi-
dates for nomination can be dispehs-
ed with.
A new party must necessarily
adopt the machinery OF the old. Adj
uniting that its aggregate members
have, to some extent, more integrity
than those of the Republican party,
they would still be under the diff
Guilty Of first obtaining power over
the various branches Of our Govern
ment, which in the case Of the Sen
ate could not be under four wears,
and they would have to try the ex-
pertinent Of conducting the execu-
tive, legislative, and administrative
functions Of the Government, with
new and inexperienced hands.
AS the stream never rises higher
than the fountain-head, no political
party can be expected to set up n
higher standard Of moral excellence
than the mass of itssupporters. The
mistake has been that so many men
Of weight and character have shirk-
ed their duties as citizens, and with
drawn their influence from the nom
mating conventions and primary
elections. Whenever public senti-
ment insists that purity of character
shall be considered the first requ isite
for office, and that no party devotion
or intellectual ability shall be consid-
cred equivalent TO it, the Admins
tration and the party will find their
hands strengthened to remove from
office al! doubtful men.
ri. A MIS-