The Portland daily press., 1874-02-24

condition of abject submissions, that they are
only too ready to buy him off with the most
extravagant sum his cupdity may suggest.
1t one could believe these moving tales, he
would be forced to the conclusion that the
financial department of the government was
engaged in foul conspiracy to rob the mer-
chants of New York, and that no importer,
however honest his intentions or straight for
ward his dealings, was safe from the clutch of
these organized highwaymen. ~
So much for the romance of the thing Now
to the facts. No Seizure of books and papers
can be made except on the or6er of Federal
Judge, having no interest, remote or contin-
gent in any penalties exacted.a If such au
order is granted no forfeiture is possible except
through the verdict of a jury. Nor is this ALL
The final arbitrameht of every case rests with
the Secretary of the Treasury, who not only
receives no share in the awards, but is ON
record in the most pronounced manner in OPP
position to the moety system. If in spite of
these ample safeguards against injustice parties
will insist upon compromising and display a
remarkable eagerness to pay tens and even
hundreds of thousands Of dollars to avoid legal
investigation, is not the inference irresistible
that they must have very cogent reasons for
declining TO meet the issue?
One thing is perfectly clear. No party who
has transacted his business in conformity to
the revenue laws, or who may have simply
erred in his construction of them, and thereby
incurred penalty for unwittingly- and tech
nically violating their letter, need feel the
slightest apprehension of being mulcted in
Tho fol Of fba
ment is invielably pledged to the prompt re-
mission of all such penalties. Secretary Rich
ardson has as little sympathy with official
spoil-hunters as his predecessor, and both have
lived through an epoch of vituperation and
calumny, wholly unprecedented, without ever
having been the subjects of suspicion or doubt
in respect to their personal and official integ-
rity. The President is in hearty accord with
his minister of finance, in this matter, and it
cannot be too plainly set forth and understood
that anybody who buys his way out of Gus
tom-house prosecution, thereby shuts the door
to the only effectual mode which was open to
him of indicating his reputation and demon
strating his innocence of any intentional wrong.
AS to the propriety of the system of reward
ing infOrmers, there is much room for debate.
1t is altogether too large theme to be entered
upon within the limits of this letter. That it
will receive the careful consideration of Con-
gress there is little reason to doubt. 1t is of
conceded Importance that any statute which
unnecessarily harasses commerce should be
promptly modified or repealed. For the ac-
complishment of this object the merchants are
entirely sure of the cordial cooperation of the
administration. There is no occasion to resort
to violent denunciations or pathetic appeals
The remedy lies in the realm of fact, not fiction
To point out the incongruities and defects of our
present tariff laws, and to propose simple and
comprehensive amendments thereof, is the
manifest duty of the leaders in the movement
to reform this great element of national in
come. There are three fundamental principles
to be kept in view in the prosecution of this
work. First, thorough collection of duties,
second. the rendering of all possible facilities
to commerce, and third, the protection OF the
honest importer from the rivalry of less scrupu-
lous competitors. r,-e~ r..r s.r..z
notice Boston is stirred up on the subject of
Simmons. l have no idea who or what Sim.
mons is. but hfs appearance, under the tutelage
of the irrepressible member from Essex is not
calculated to impress one in his favor But
what pity it is that the solid men of Boston
cannot Keep walked up.
In business and money making thew are
argus eyed indeed, but apart from periodical
tussle with Butler, they have chronic aver
sion to taking hand in politics. Yet party
organizations cannot be sustained without in
dlvidual effort and if the gentlemen of the
West end and the South end will not crimple
their immaculate shirt fronts nor soil their
patent leather boots by mingling in the Ward
caacusses they must expect the Simmonses to
"push them from their stools" And when
there are officers to be bestowed it is not in
human nature, to ignore the brave fellows who
have led to victory the grand columns Of the in
vincible Republican party. 1t is too much to ex-
pect that the President should search out from
among the many able merchants of that in
tellectual metropolis, some elegantly attired
citizen who makes his appearance on change at
headed cane and declares politics vulgar, and
invite him to accept the dictatorship
There must be parties, and somebody must
man and guide them. hope the day will come
when gentlemen of the most eminent respecta-
bility will not deem it a condescension to par
ticipate actively in political affairs. That kind
of Civil Service Reform will do much TO ele-
vate the tone of public sentiment, demonstrate
the superiority of free government, and perpet-
uate the principles of the Republican party.
YARMOUTH.