Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-13
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he aeeomplishes in this direction, the
less OnerOus will be the task of the
Democracy on taking charge of affairs
with the beginning Of the second CEN
tury Of the republic. An the washing
of dirty linen that Messrs. Jewell and
Bristow may indulge in, only confirms
the long standing charges Of wholesale
corruption made by the Democracy.
What a blind and sNindled people have
regarded as mere partisan assertions,
are now proved to be true. Indeed the
dimensions Of the Radical corruptions
developed during the past few years
Credit Mobilier, Sanbornism, Freed
mans bank. Pacific Mail, down to the
Whisky Ring-far exceed any accusa-
tons that preceded them, because the
full extent of these enormities could
not be realized by any person outside
Of the rings.
Bristow may deserve credit for do
ing his duty-and he is doing no more
in view Of his delinquent predeoes-
s1rs. Honesty or any approach to it
Is so foreign to administration affairs,
that an honest official is to be priced
for his rarity. But what shall we say
OF the President and party managers
who have allowed these frauds to grow
and flourish for years, converting ras-
Gals into millionaires at the expense of
honest dealers and taxpayers? Is
there no score to be settled by the peo-
pie for this gross negligence? If
Douglass is ANONYMOUSLY disgraced
for blindness to the corruption Of his
underlings-if this is justice accord
ing to President Grant-what should
be done with President Grant himself
for similar blindnesss
The Cincinnati Gazette, sturdy Re.
publican organ, says: For a long time
1t has been apparent to the trade who
paid their taxes and did an honest bust
ness, that the payment of taxes was
largely evaded, and upon Mr. Bristow's
appointment as Secretary of the Treas
ury, steps were taken to supply him
with information. Why were such
steps not taken before? The "long
time" spoken of by the Gazette extends
over five years at the least. Why did
not honest dealers take steps" before
why have they suffered in silence all
these years? The answer Is, that they
did protest time and again, and fur
nished all the information needed, but
they had no influence in court. The
honest distiIler, after paying his COM
plicated taxes, cannot afford to give
thousands Of dollars for Republican
campaign funds. 1t is only the dis
honest ones who can afford to be ac-
tive friends Of the Administration, and
thus acquire the influence at Washing
ton which has siIenced the complaints
Of honest dealers.
From the details Of these exposures
It is found that forty per cent. Of the
s5eaIings was paid to officials; here is
a tremendous fund with which to cor
rupt men," says the Gazette, and it
adds:
The question Will now come up as to
punishment. Il viii not do to merely
dismiss the corrupt officials, or 70 IN
tict a money penalty only on the dis
iillels and rectiiers. If frauds are to
be stopped and criminals punished, the
PGnItentiary must be used. But the
President and Secretary do dot need TO
be urged, we presume, upon this point. 1
4 robbed people. viii watch with
some interest what measure Of Justice !
may be meted ont to the hundreds Of
corrupt officials, against whom the
Treasury Department claims TO pos
sas5 convicting evidence. If mere dis |
m.ssals end the matter, the sincerity Oi |
Bristow VIII be questioned and the |
whole affair regarded as a Po- |
isi-al coup detat. On the other
hand, if the Administration |
for reform be an honest |
one, it cannot stop with smashing a |
whisky ring, however gigantic. There
Is thelasy ring, and somebody ought |
60 be called to account, for instance, |
TOR turning that Department into a
pawnbroker's shop for Jay Cookies old /
iron, and advancing nearly a million Of
funds there0n-a matter
that has reached the notoriety Of court
Then there Is the Indian
ring. to which attention has been
called time and again, and the stencil
e which riseth continually. If the
Administration proposes to
clean the Government stables for the
incoming Democracy, we bid them
good sDeed.