, 1875-05-13


leave Mr.. P111141rs to form and carry out the
scheme himself.
TIE sTupENDoUs POLITICAL 8CHENE.''
Tho information comes from Washington
that certain politicians aro inclined to regard
tho recent whisky seizures as part Of
stupendous socret political scheme" having
for its purpose tho removal Of so.no Of the
most prominent of1ceholdors throughout tho
country, nnl their replacement by Tho sup
portora Of other politicnl magnateH. Perhaps
so. In fact, we hope so. Probably the cx-
,s1lro Of tho frauds in tho mai1-contraots,
tuo indictment OF men who hnvo been bribing
department clerks, the suppression Of the
1uail-bng swinllea, and tic reforms in tho De-
partment of Justice incident to Judge
P1ERnEroSr's supplanting WnItAs's, arc also
parts OF the snne." stupondoua secret roliti-
| cal scheme" II so, wo Rro inclined to hare
| moro faith In this political scheme than any
other which has boen devised of lato years.
! It promises to accomplish more than all
| tho independent party movements that have
bccn conceived by enthusiastic rcformcrs It
is tho only scheme VIC hayo noted TINT is likely
to weel ont corruption in ofhcinl circlcg nud
confirm public confidence in tho administra-
ton Of tho various functions Of Government.
It ia schon,c which rnay, rs certain politi-
clans seem to apprchond, involve the rc-
| moyal Of good many oAiceho!ders; but we
do not see how any interest is to be adversely
Affected by this change, except that OF tho
ofIcelo!ders themselves, md their patrons
in higher places. Such a11 interest being
1,ersonal and so1tlsh, it may bo sacrificed
without any injustice It tho public veal is to
10 aided thereby.
The simple fact is that President GRANT,
In calling tolia Cabinet such men ne Bn,a1ow,
JEWELL, and p1EnnErosT, has surrounded
himself with class Of mon cager aud compo-
tont to reform the public service wherever
corruption or neglect has allowed
abuses to creep in. We hayo no
doubt TINT their appointment was
tho flrst stop Of grand reform move
1nout, which is tha tr,1o readiug Of what tho
politicians aro calling "a stupcndous secret
political schome." In tho working out OF the
contemplated reforms 1t is altogether likely
that good many Official heads will have tc
fall into tho basket Most Of these Office.
holders are appoiutees Of tho various Senators
and memboru Of Congress from the different
States, WHO will probably bo inclined to pro
test yohemcntly against tho displacement O.
their retaincrs as injecting their politica
status ut home. We fanoy that these pro
tests will nppoal to deaf ear. Tho Who'll
process of Secretary Dn1srow against tn
wlisky-ring indicates that he proposes t.
mako the reform complete, no matter VII
may foll by the wnyuide. It is simply i'm
possible that frauds so bold md o1
tenaiyo a. those which 1nyo boo
recently exposed could have been sus
: ccsafu!ly carried Oh without tho coz
nivance and cooperation Of largo numbe
!. !. Of ofiiciais connected with tho Revenue De
partment. Tho duplication mud tliplicatio
Of whiaky conscnmcnts under tho sam
stamps Ia Of itaelf sufficient evidence c
this. In fact as soon a. III honcat 6npery
= sor and honest aubordinates woro found f
Louisiana, the distillera and rectiilers in thu
Il S.ata announced TINT they could no lou3s
:. compete with the manufacturers Of til
i Northern departments, whero the royeus
n oiticials could DO openly bought over. It WI
Il very proper that tho first step, Rftor collcc
~ iuR tho necessary evidence Of tho fraud
n should DO to seize tie properly Of the su
10 peeled distillers aud rectilers, In order TIL
III the Government might indemnify itsclt Il
Il. thu losses by fraud. Tho next step, logic
ed and inevitable, Ia Tho removal OF the roven'
ct officials In whose departments tho frau
Ia. have been perpetrated. In all cnsos whc
4, collusion can DO positively proved al tic III
ia. honest revenue officers ought to bs proseo,l