The Republican journal., 1873-05-15
The Tide of Corruption.

because 1t entangled IN the net OF dis
honorable speculation men who should
have been above suspicion, gave public
confidence fearful shock, and tarnshed
the national honor. The salary steal was
worse, inasmuch that it was an open and
unblushng robbery with no attempt at
MISUNDERSTANDING not even the t1imsy
veil Of forwarding a great enterprise,
which so slightly hid the Credit Mobilier
transaction But chiefly does it shock the
moral sense of the nation and disgrace it
abroad because its executive head accepts
bribe of a hundred thousand dollars and
gives his official sanction.
SO much tor affairs at home Advices
from abroad Indicate that the administra-
ton can touch nothing whch is not speedi-
ly pervaded by the offensiveness OF official
corruption. The new scandal concerns
the Great Exposition or Worlds Fair, lust
opened at Vienna 1t is a field in which
it was specially desirable that the United
States should be represented in a manner
at once fair, honorable and in spirit of
generous emulation with all other nations.
All peoples are there contendng for the
prize of the greatest advancement in arts,
sciences, and the achievements of civiliza-
ton. The great German Empire thither
invites the world, with lavish hospitality
and generosity that knows no bounds, to
participate in the peaceful Jubilee that
| celebrates the advancement of man.
| Who would imagine that at such time
and in such place would be found the
| itching palms and insatiate greed that
take at once their appointments and their
example from official life ut Washington
| To our shame be it confessed that, invited
to Vienna to exhibit our excellences and
| advancements, we have thus far shown
only choice samples of rascality. 1t is
discovered That the assistant commission
ers are a set of scamps, who engage in
peddling out to their countrymen the privi-
| leges which the German government ac-
cords without money and without price.
Restaurant privileges were let to Ameri-
cans for share of the profits Each par
ticular exhibitor that wanted choice
place or special privileges, could get them
only for money. This miserable bargain
and sale was carried on so openly as to
become as we'll known as the stock tran
sactions on the exchange. When it reached
the ears of the United States minister,
| that official, acting upon his general au-
thority suspended from office the commits
sioner and his assistants The State de-
partment sanctioned the act and appointed
a temporary board. The chief commits
sioner, Gen. Van Buren, may not be i'm
plioated but he should have known what
his subordinates were doing, and cannot
shake off the charge of blindness and in
difference, at least.
The manner in which the trading scamps
managed to get places in commission
that Of all others should be composed of
honorable men, has been explained since
the scandal forced itself upon public at
tention. Immediately upon Gen. Van
Buren's appointment, he made out a list
of the gentlemen whom he desired as as
sistants, and sent it to the State depart
ment The politicians who control the
administration, however, had influence
enough to cause the rejection of the list,
and to get their personal friends appoint
ed. When this was done, Gef Van Buren
openly declared he would not be respon-
sible tor them. Even under these circum-
stances, however, he is not altogether
without blame. When the administration
appointed politicians on his staff, it was
equivalent to formal notification to him
that stealing would commence as soon as
they arrived on the ground, and in con-
nection with the American minister, he
should have been on the alert to check it
at the very outset, and thus have saved
the country from the disgrace that has
been fastened upon it.
This country undoubtedly gained large
y in the field of diplomacy by the victory
in the sett ement of the Alabama claims
and the San Juan boundary; but they are
but poor offsets for the shocking examples
of personal dishonesty and political cor
ruption which we now haunt in the tace
of the old world
Oakes Ames is dead Seized with apo
| ,,Iayv at bis hnn,o in Nortl, Eoc+o,, Moe,
he expired on the evening of the Sth In
many respects Mr.. Ames was remark
able man. Like most men who achieve
success in conducting business on large
SCALE he early acquired practical knowl-
edge OF his specially. Like his father,
he was practical blacksmith, and man
Of large and vigorous frame. The excel
lence of the shovels made by Oliver Ames
& Son soon increased the demand for
them to such an extent that the little
smithy grew to huge factory, and made
immense fortunes for the house. With
wealth came 70 Mr.. Ames wider sphere
of action. He became inter ested in west
ern railroads, and made profitable invest
ments. From that the transition to politics
was easy, and Mr.. Ames went to Congress.
Of his connection with the Pacific railroad
and the disreputable Credit Mobilier the
country is familiar No apology of partial
friends, nor any broad mantle of charity
can make those transactions other than
disgraceful. Mr.. Ames had many excel
lent and admirable traits of character,
and in the affairs of life was man of
achievement. With them let his memory
be associated, while oblivion draws a
veil over the rest.