The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-04-07
ORGANIZED OFFICIAL PLUNDERERS.

dzrbolt against the men who in combination
swindle the State they are appointed to serve
and steal from the ire ,snry they are stationed
| TO guard, sketches the class referred to IN
recent issue Of Tie BULLETIN as "Puollt
People" Speaking of public works which
are altogether useless, which pass under tn
name Of public improvements, OF the eager
| activity Of Inc class who seek profit in con
tracts, Of the fictitious improvements con
tryed 10 furnish profitable jobs, and Of The
enormous figures to which the cost Of really
| useful works is made to run, he describes the
| class as follows:
! Il is not merely in the general laxity and
decentralization of official and political life
| that we are to look for the causes OF these
evils The class which fattens on abuses Of
pubic expenditures is intelligent, energetic,
| and persistent. Acting as a u.it it takes part
through its members in the org .nizat!on and
| the dolngs Of both political parties; seeks to
control nominations; rewards friends and
puri, hes enemies; and 1t begins to operate
BY every form OF seductive and coercive iutlu-
ence upon public officers as soon as they are
elected. The vast mas OF the taxpayers are
occupied in their daily industries, on their
farms and in their workshops, and cannot
easily, ard do not in fact. make a business OF
politics. In silent contest With the tax con-
sumers they are often practically unrepre-
sented It is only when they are aroused and
organized, and can find representatives whom
they trust, that they protect themselves
and cverwhe,ln all resistance.
After the close of the war a great many
thousands Of enterprisng men embarked in
speculation, being stimulated by their fallen
fortunes and encouraged by the brilliant sue
cess of those who traded and made fortunes
while the war was still going on. All a. once
men of spirit and intelligence seemed to quit
the field of honor and danger to rush into
traffic for gain. Each seemed to be driven by
an uncomfortable desire to become rich by
the exploitation Of the money, labor and sub
stance of others. Our people became nation
of spectators, warmly competing for gain.
1t suddenly became the chief end of the
leading men of the whole country to make
honestly, if possible, but at all haz-
ards to make money.
About the same time there arose to
prominence class Of legislators and office
holders well described by Gov Tilden, who
industrously and in concert subordinated
principle to gain and perverted all political
positions Of honor and trust to the sole and
single purpose Of gaining wealth. To obtain
an office was reduced to question Of profit
and loss. Ii the election or appointment
cost only part Of what was certain to be
made, it was considered good bargain. If
a seat in legislative body was desired it was
won by the outlay of very handsome
sum OF money, and when seated the pur-
chaser was not slow to get his money back
with large usury by selling his votes and in
huence.
This abandonment Of principle was quite
shameless and without q film of conceaiment
or an attempt at it. Public men seemed
pleased to be known and advertised as mer-
cenary and purchasable. The better known
as such the better was their market. Denun-
Citations were laughed at and prosecutions
were impraeticable, since no convictions
could be looked for, except upon the testi-
mony of accompiices in plumber and compan-
IONS il fraud. Bills in which great privileges
we're conceded ana important franchises ex-
tended, confined, enlarged. met with ready
support without consideration for the public
welfare. Small claims were not Needed but
whenever {. large DRAFT On the public funds
was proposed, it was easily doubled, hurried
through its various stages, enacted into ~
statute, the money drawn or the shares sold
for the Joint benefit Of legislators and pro-
jectors.
Shrewd men were not slow to see the
change which had come over the spirit of
the dream of public life. Those who wanted
to do something for themselves were soon
convinced that little could be accomplished
without the countenance, consent and CO.
operation of their venal confreres. Really
honorable men, who would not conform to
the dictates Of rings nor sell their votes for
money and bonds, soon found themselves
isolated and powerless
Public Office and legislation has become so
thoroughly saturated and dyed with corrup-
ton that purifying them must be a task both
long and lahorious. Society must learn to
look more closely into the origin and growth
of the wealthy. There must be new public
opinion formed, by which integrity will be
applauded, upheld and supported. Promi-
nert men in social ranks must no longer
shrink from entering the political lists as
champions of what is right and honorable.
To break the ranks and scatter the forces OF
leagued, organized aud brisaded scoundrel-
ism, honest men and fair-minded citizens
must be armed with Office and led to the cen
dict BY the champions Of the truth.
GAGGING THE PRESS.