National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-06
UTTER DEPRAVITY.

SN~---@~~-
UTTER DEPRA VITY
The cynical spirit which pervades the
satanic or so called independent press never
found more fitting exemplifcation than in
the comment of the New York Tribune
upon Mr.. Claggett's testimony before the
District Investigating Committee. 1t will
be remembered that Mr.. c., while on the
witness stand, related tale of an interview
between himself and benevolent stranger,
in which the latter venturned the advice
that legislators should always vote no"
Perhaps" says the Tribune, commenting
on this apoeryphal anecdote, cit is asking
too much of the legislator of the period,
whose mouth waters for the spoils about
''him, to ask him'to vote No, on occasion"
In this single sentence, this unqualified dec
laration that the legislator Of the period is
corrupt and that his mouth habitually
waters for dishonest spoils, we find, as we
have said, the wicked inspiration of the So
called independent press. 1t admits of no
ambiguous construction; the declaration is
sweeping and embraces every man in Con-
gress, or in any other Legislative body, with
out exception. Democrats, Republicans,
Independents, and men Of every political
faith are alike included within its compre-
hensive and slanderous denunciations. The
writer might have conveyed the same mean
ing by declaring the acceptance Of legisla-
tive Office to be equivalent of disgrace, and
holding it to be badge of corruption. The
utter depravity which alone could suggest
such a thought is simply and inexcussbly
shocking. A man reused by disappointment
and continued adversely might become so en-
ragged against his fellow men as to be guilty
of such belief, or become 50 insane as
to give utterance to it; but that professed
teacher of public morals and pretended
leader of the people should sanction its pub
LEGATION is marvellous indeed. The infa-
nous disregard of the reputation ofa respec-
table class of citizens, the heretical disbelief
in the laws of God, the hypocritical self-con-
ceit, and the skepticism of all that is good
and noble in the world, of which it gives
undoubted evidence, should combine to pro-
woke universal disgust towards its author
When we remember that the honor of an
upright man is next to his religion. if not a
part of 1t, and that his integrity of character
is coequal in value with his life, not only in
his own estimation but before the world,
this sweeping denunciation of friend and
foe would seem to be the result of an over
sight but the Tribune persists in it day
after day, and its columns are never free
from similar aspersions. The marked COM
parison which it suggests between the con-
duct of that journal now and the time when
it was accepted as the leading exponent of
great political principles, before the late
Mr.. Greeley forgot the ties and sacred obi
cations of undying faith in those principles,
is not the least important view of the case.
The fact that people read such infamous
scandals, and reading them encourage their
repetition, is one of the greatest disgraces
Of our day and time. 1t shows demorali-
zation of the pu Bile mind or an indifference
to the truth-one and the same thing-which
is not only sad but reprehensible. We cannot
believe, however, that this decentralization is
so widely extended as its agents pretend it
to be. The rude cynicism Of Mr.. Claggett's
strange adviser may receive meaningless
Endorsement and thoughtless approval,
but its logical conclusion, as interpreted by
the Tribune, is so repugnant to the better
feelings of mankind in general as to insure
for it, as the result of sober second thought, |
the most earnest rejection. We deny that |
the public men of to-day are more corrupt
than their predecessors, or that the people |
from which they spring are SO abandoned |
to evil practices as to be able only to pro-
duce thieves and spoil-hunters as their
chosen leaders. The great body of our
people are the same in character, in man. |
ner of thought and in their integrity to
principle as they were in the days when
Horace Greeley relied upon them with un-
erring faith for their support or when,
from the homes: impulses Of his heart, he
willingly accorded to his political opponents |
as much of unselfish patriotism and of 10y |
atty to the Government as he claimed for
himself The gangrened vision and false
of his unworthy successors |
may serve little longer to attract fleeing |
and unstable recognition, but already their
downfall is assured. The Tribune is no |
longer recognized as respectable journal,
but is consigned by discerning public
opinion to companionship with its cotem-
porary in purchasable or revengeful skep-
ticism, Dana's Sun. Let Whitelaw Reid |
and Charles A. Dana be yoLed together, as
they seem inclined to join each other in the |
repugnant character of their dirty work, |
and let them be banished from public recog- |
milton as the victims of utter depravity Of
heart and soul, too-if they possess either |
one.