New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-05
THIIfBIE RIO.


fifteen months ago-in which the people and
the press, conscious that tho public service
was honeycombed with corruption, that the
Treasury was plundered, that laziness, dis
honesty, and incOmpetency were installed III
almost all the official positions under Gov
eminent that members of Congress were
engaged in corrupt speculatiOns based upon
the prostitution of their trusts, and that there
was very low standard of political morals
and official integrity everywheTe-grumbled
and complained in very general terms Dut
with great cOnstanCy. The press commented
freely upon the evil tendencies of the times,
and dealt out its denuncations of the pre-
vailing corruption and vice vigorously ana
unsparngly. Everybody knew, for the papers
were full Of it, that we were in the midst OF
a period of dishonesty and greed, and that the
sources of the turbid tide that was sweeping
over the land were in the bad examples OF
official delinquency and fraud in high places.
No one called names, but in general terms the
party in power was held in a great measure
responsible for the Generalization. The de-
mand for reform in the Civil Service grew
out of it and became so clamorous that the
Administration party was driven TO do some
thing to appease it in the shape of the clever
piece of trickery known as the Civil Service
Commission, which, after amusing its invent
ors for two years, has been turned over to the
tender mercies of Mr. Kelloggs Committee for
punishment after death.
1t is hardly necessary to remind any one
who has kept track of the political discussions
in and out of Congress for the past two or
three years how this method of attacking stu
pendous abuses in a general way, without
specifications or personal excmpliiication, was
received by the supporters and organs OF the
party in power. "This is only the miscnevous
"gabble of sensational scandal-bruiting
press" they said. "There is of course more
cor less of dishonesty aud corruption in all
parties, and among all classes but no more
"now than at any previous time. The party
in power is not responsible for it. Its rep
resentatives are the purest and best men i'll
the land its legislation the wisest and most
salutary its principles and ideas those of
the most rigid morality, and its administra-
" ton as pure and irTeproachable as is posi-
"ble under human limitations" And then
they said, "If there is so much official wrong
doing and such prevailing corruption III
high places why do not those purlsts OF the
"press name the offenders, That investigation
may be had and the guilty ones punished.
"Give us the specifications"
Well, we have had now for about fifteen
months a period of specifications. Offenders
have been named, offenses specified and in
vestigatlon demanded. In more cases than
some of the unsOphisticated had any idea of,
investigation brought out conclusive evil
Il 4l,o Of oil had hpap
charged. Members OF Congress who were
above suspicion were found to have been
more or less deeply interested in speculative
enterprises of a character a little worse than
doubtful, whose success depended upon their
votes as legislators. Senators were discovered
to have accepted money from great corpora
tons, which to the unregenerate mind
seemed marvelously like retainers, while
their subsequent action i'll the Senate had
so much the character of service rendered
that no suit for the recovery of the money on
the ground of no consideration could have
stood a moment in any court; other Senators
were proven to have paid for their election in
open market, and wherever the probe of in
vestigation pierced venaity, bribery, fraud,
and all forms of official dishonesty were ex-
posed. 1t was the era of specific offenses.
The gentlemen who year or two ago de-
pounced mendacious press for its sweeping
accusations of fraud and corruption, and de-
manded either specific allegations or silence,
have had very suficing bellyfu. Their an
swer we need hardly quote. 1t is the by-word
of politics. Throughout the country there has
been such a lifting upward of white hands
and rolling heavenwsrd of white eyes as
could not be surpassed should all the solemn
line of Pharisees, from him OF the Temple
down. repeat with one accord their thanks
that they are not as other men. Is character
"to 90 for nothing7" they ask Indignantly.
Are we to investigate the conduct OF our
"purest and best men at the bidding or
"libelers and slanderers? If this thing Is TO
continue, nobody is safe.D Senator Patter-
son of New-Hampshire left the Senate last
March utterly disguised at this state OF things.
Mr. Pomeroy of Kansas is very much OF the
same way of thinking. Attorney General VIII
liams is in profound sympathy with them.
Mr.. Starkweather of Connecticut is more
deeply impressed than ever with the reckless
ness and mendacity of the independent press,
and ex-senator Harlan, through his newspaper,
lifts up daily wall over the wanton malice
of these grossly offensive attacks upon private
character.
These are the two thimbles of the gentle
men who live upon politics and stand by the
| Constitution and the party To all general
charges of corruption, they offer general
denlals and demand specific allegations