Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-10-25
Will the People he Taught III
Poat once DefaIcatlOn.

ting appointments ~ D"h NtfN -
and been laughed at as men with q
crochet disposed 10 "make a mountain
" out of a mole.hill." Preachers, in the
pulpit and out of It, have warned the
people against the terrible indirect results
OF lowering the standard of character
amongst public officers by disregarding
all considerations of character, reputa-
ton aud fitness, in their appointment,
and they have been sneered at by men oil
professedly moral character as visionary
enthusiasts. Yet have not the prophe.
cies Of both been more than fulfilled
Are not public Offices throughout the
country filed by men who could not
obtain places Of equal responsibility in
private establishments We think that
there can be bit one answer 10 this, and
that the result is equally apparent.
Defalcations have been so frequent that
they have ceased 10 excite comment
They have not been confined TO those
holding positions under Government, but
have extended to the banks, trust COM
panies and other semi-pubiic Institutions
and this. not merely in New York, near
the maddening whirlpool Of Wall street
Safeguarding, but throughout the
country. There cannot be a doubt that
the wretched condition OF affairs has
been brought about by the fact that
breaches OF trust and all kinds Of Official
thleylng have been. to a great EXTENT
shorn of the shane and disgrace which
once attached TO them. Men who would
send, without conjunction, petty thief
to the lail-or, in our State, to the whip
ping post-will laugh at the theit OF
Thousands, provided they arc mot the ones
robbed, and freely sign petitions to enable
tho criminal to escape runlshm'
through the abuse of executive Gle n,ng,.
which is generally weakn' and f'e'
'uenily something wo-' Ya.,srdar "a,
instance a legation of "promineni
eitizens, of Pittsburgh, were in Wash
ngs endeavoring to enable the thieying
, Postmaster of that city TO escape punish.
ment on condition that be will refuad the
money stolen. And the worst Of It Is
: that men can thus inpudently offer tc
, bride our Government to compound 6
felony without losing tho respect of thel,
neighbors, or being driven IN shame and
disgrace from the presence Of the officers
who ought to feel insulted by the propo.
d sition.
3 Or we may bring our Illustration
} nearer home. There Is no question that
i over three thousand dollars has been dis.
honestly taken, by somebody, from tue
post office In this city. AL the accusations
e thus far made point TO E. j. Dough
e erty, late chief clerk, or assistant post
= master, rs the guilty man, bis owl
der'als being, as set, the only opposing
a .csllinony. lie is now under arrest AT
Ii Ias given bail to answer; hut does an
+ one suppose that If Mr.. Doughety hat
. made good the amount stolen, or } &
% bondsmen had done ID i1r rim, lie woul,
i ever have nave been prosecuted W
"a greatly doubt If he would prosecute
even yet, If the deficiency were mad
~ good. Of course, IL Mr.. Dougherly i
10 innocent, as be claims TO he, he will no
Is buy of prosecution at such price, bu
'e if he be guilty, it ought not TO DO in hi
power to do so. If it comes 10 be under
r stood that the Only penalty for thlevin
lE IA IN ba al Ay.1a