New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-24
tendency toward simple honesty in human
nature which it would be well for politicians
to recognize. --

The principle upon which the appropriations
for the Secret Service Fund were paid out, as
described in our Washington letter, seems to
have been an extension of the secrecy of the
service to the point of not asking any ques-
tons about the disbursements. Extravagant
bills for expenses were paid without any call
for items and in the case of Nettleship, who
figured in the safe burglary business two salaries
were paid beside, one of them for duties which
be was not at all called upon to perform. The
officers of our army and navy, men noted as
class for their sensitive honor and integrity,
are put to no end of trouble and delay In
auditing every trifing detail of accounts but
the Government detectives, men not untre-
quently of the most questionable antecedents'
have their little bills paid without being
troubled by red tape. 1t is trite remark put
none the less true, that if any business man
were to manage his affairs as does our Gov-
eminent he would be ruined in twelvemontn,
if indeed he were not sent by his Hlends 10
lunatic asylum.
"The war of races,n said Congressman Cain
to our correspondent in South Carolina whose
letter we print to day, al regard as mere CHI
"mera. feared by white and colored people only
ain proportion TO their ignorance" MIR. Cain
ia leader among the colored people OF that
State. He finds the treatment of negroes by
white men generally commendable. From
him and from other prominent representatives
of either party our correspondent receives
every assurance of an amicable feeling be-
tween the races, throughout the State. There
are no Ku-Klux, no midnight massacres, no ter
rorism and outrage; and there has not been any.
Exactly what is the need of troops in such
peaceful community is not apparent; but If
they come solely to assist in keeping the peace
that was not broken, they will be welcomed
by all parties. But just there is the rub.
There is fear that their presence is intended
for partisan purposes at elections, to defeat
the reforms in which good citizens are so
largely interested Who shall say there is no
occasion for such fearsf
The story of the people of Louisiana who
have risen against their oppressors is told in
our dispatches this morning 1t is in the
form of a report from a committee appointed
at meeting composed of the Committee
of Seventy. the State Central Committee,
and the Parish Committees and takes
the form of an appeal There is a brief
epitome of the long series of wrong from
which the State has suffered; vivid
description of the means by which
citizens were deprived of their politl-
cal rights; an address of the Com
mittee of Seventy sent to the President
by telegraph fortnight ago which has never
before been published and seems to have been
suppressed at Washington; an explanation of
the formation and design of the White League,
an organization whose character is said to
have been grossly misrepresented; an account
of the insurrection. in which it is claimed that
the fight was forced upon the citizens and that
they did not begin it; and the story
of the surrender and the fruitless negotiations
of the Compromise Committee. This history
of the grievances of people speaks for
itself. 1t is not mere matter of local pol
itics. 1t will be read and pondered upon by
all men who have a desire to perpetuate free
institutions.