New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-09
THE SOURCE OF CORRUPTION.

The exposures of fraud and rapacity in Of
fee which the city and the country are now
contemplating with mingled Indignation and
disgust will do more harm than good unless
the business men of New-York learn the
lesson which these infamies are teaching. The
spectacle of shameless vice is always positively
Injurious unless it is positively advantageous.
When exceptional rascality is lifted up in the
face of the whole community, it is almost an
even chance whether it is to serve as an eX-
annie to avoid OF pattern to initiate Espe-
cially is such exposure dangerous when the
men who are shown to be guilty of the lowest
vices occupy the highest positions, represent
ing the very fountains of government
and of law. We are not unaware of the
peril which is associated with the demonstra-
ton which these columns have recently con-
tanned, that the Republican leader of the House
of Representatives, the Secretary and the
Solicitor of the Treasury, the United States
District-Attorney in this city, and almost the
entire force of Federal ofhce-hOlders here are
banded together in the INSCRIPTIONS schemes
to plumber the commerce of New York and the
revenues of the Government, which have so
startled all classes of thoughtful men. The
JAYNE robberies of individuals, and the San
born thefts from the Treasury, consummated
as they have been with the direct assist
i, ance of the Administration, are full OF
moral poison for every idle and dishonest
youth who is contemplating life of pol
itics. 1t is hard to characterize as 1t de-
serves the phenomenal and stupid immortality
of a public service under which these enorml-
ties are practced. We know we are running
the risk of persuading the youthful Jaynes
and Blisses now entering upon life that there
is no harm in stealing if you do it in in
fluential company. But this risk we must run.
| 1t is a plain duty which cannot be evaded, to
get at the bottom of this conspiracy of
official robbers, and to attempt at least to
arouse the public conscience to proper. APP
probation of their work. If the business men
of New-York learn nothing by this monstrous
lesson, their case may be considered hopeless.
They will do well TO remember that they
are not guitless IN the matter. We do not
propose to lecture any one for voting for
| Grant the second time, although his sordid
| tendencies and civil incapaclty were as clearly
proved two years ago as now. But those
| who voted for HIM had right to do so, and
| if they committed an error 1t was one of
| Judgment and not an immoral act. But we
| would like to ascertain from the thousands OF
| business men in this city what they think
now of the lavish contributions of money
which they made during that campaign! Never
was money used so freely before. The State
of North Carolina was deluged with 1t. The
rural districts of Maine were invaded by the
agents of the Administration, who squandered
the money of New York merchants and bankers
with a recklessness which will be fruitful of
corruption for years TO come. As to Pcnnsyl-
yania, the demands were endless and the sup
| ply almost inexhaustible. If MIR. Clews had
been as prompt in meeting his own drafts as
he was i'll satisfying those of the Admlnistra-
ton committees, his credit would he better
than it is now. This was ostentatiously and
Extensively done. Wall Street Is never very
prudsh i'll talking of money matters, and
il was almost unanimous for Grant. This
fact formed the basis of the confidence which
| the supporters of the Administration felt III
this city, and which contributed 80 powerfully
to its success. 1t was not one single class Of
moneyed men which Joined in building up this