New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-07-25
RESIGNATION OF THE AUDITOR.


the close of the calendar year. has occa
stoned US some surprise. In accepting al
Office the incumbent is naturally prepared
to comprehend its duties, and to foresee
the ordinary perplexities which the accept.
ance involves. With ':the gindicatiou OF
his conduct from charges of corrup.
ton" the unpleasant duties" of having
to deferd himself from "civil and criminal
! prosecutions would seem ended, or at
least easy. Then would come duty
which the meekest Christian would find il
difficult TO discharge without some balm
OF retributive justice. This duty would
be to bling to trial the factious and i'm
practicable Treasurer. supported by a
certain class Of corrupt men in and out of
| the Assembly, The stern obligation to
stand by the constituent people is made
more impressive by this remark:
have no hesitation in stating that the
prosecutions in the courts and elsewhere
were gotten up for the purpose of removing
me from the path of those who desire to
plunder the State treasury.
I: would seem to us that these duties
were imperative, yet we fear that the
resignation will be regarded as surren-
der to an attacking party. described as
INSCRIPTIONS in the extreme. Such a
retreat or surrender could not add to the
fame of the Auditor either as a fearless
defender Of his post or Of his political
principles.
What the Republican party now needs
is vigilant investigation and complete ex-
oneration from the charge of being ruled
by men Of the character intimated by the
Auditor. Enough OF official time I'm.
doubtedly remains to the Auditor to con.
summarize his own vindicatioa as thor
oughly in the opinion Of the public as it
has been in his own. In the performance
of this duty he will have the sincere
sympathies and support Of the REpUBL1.
CAN. Every investigation OF alleged cor
ruption is an argument of Republican in.
tegrity. Every conviction and dismissal
from office is the skin OF q noxious ma.
rauder nailed on the platform of the Re-
publican party in proof that such vermin
are not tolerated, and warning to them
to avoid the premises.
We have few words to say upon the
valedictory of the Auditor. We, of
course, look upon Mr.. Clinton in no
other light than as public officer,
elected upon Republican nomination
and by Republican votes. and upon Re-
publican responsibility. 1t is important to
tie Republican party that he should have
SO borne himself as that no imputation
could rest upon his .resolute vindication
OF his own honor or that of the party to
which he belongs. For this duty we still |
look. There will be no plea of resigna.
tion in bar Of inquiry. and no
respite of inquiry on the ground
that the personal reputation of the Audi.
tor having been indicated. he is thereby |
absolved from the ''wearying and most
unpleasant" duty of bringing offenders to
ustice. Having indicated himself. it
will become the duty of Auditor Clinton
o yindicate the Republican party from
he misdeeds Of any Republican delin.
luent For this was he chosen Repub-
lean officer.
We think there may be traced in the
'tficial emba. easements of the Auditor,
ommon vice IN party politics. We have
cen the same thing in the rogueries of
be whisky and Indian rings OF the fed.
raj government and in the various jobs
naked in up,n the Democratic city ad.
Parties who have been ac-
i've in the nominations for political Office
cquire thereby certain control Of the
ominees whom they they have aided in
he caucus or upon the bond. These
-iends. like old Sol ellis. the astronomical /
1strument maker of Dickens, ':seem TO
ave acquired sort of property in the {
ars." A nominee for Office, having Sc [
ured public support on account Of his S
and integrity. is an inno- {
ent dgurehead for subsequent operations. 3,
he conspirators press upon the principal ,
Office subordinates who are themselves in {
le ring. It is just as if thieves secure for S
'me one Of themselves the position OF a I
utter in gentleman's house. or put a {
oy up to get through broken pane and S
nbar the way to the plate closet. These ,
lbordinates can give such information
i'd such direction to official action as to i
liable their outside partners to take all +
lat they need. even against the will OF c
le most honest principal. 1t is just as S
e cashier can outwit the president. and S
e bank porter let in the burglar. With f
it making any direct charge about per. L
ms or facts. of whom or Of which
3 know nothing. we have read t.
ough both in the testimony of the i.
osecution and in the letter OF the d
lditor to satisfy US that he. like q
her officials, was absent good deaf, and ri
trusted his duties to various officials q
10 do not seem to have been as vigilant S,
be would no doubt have proved =
mself to be. The issuing Of certain n
'rrants by such vicarious auth ority is g
e evidence Of this want Of coincidence 2;
tween principal and subordinate. The
ly one instance "ln which the experts n
innate anything more than yielding to le
due pressure" is another indication re