Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-01
SPURIOUS AND GENUINE REFORK.

SPURIOUS AND GENUINE RFFORN
A year ago Governor Tilden started out
with great flourish of trumpets as re-
former. His own State of New York fur
nished an excellent field for the display OF
his talents in the line of action which he
had chosen. From the announcement OF
his plans he had the encouragement OF
the republican press, and the support OF
the republican party as long as he honest
ly appeared to persevere in his avowed In
tentions. Mr.. Tilden talked well, prom
ised well, and certainly had no reason to
complain of the support which he received
from the public, especially that part OF it
acting with the republican organization.
What are the resultsp With all due re-
spect to Mr.. 1ilden.Iweia are obliged to
say that his administration thus far has
accomplished nothing whateverin the way
ofpolitical reform. The Canal Ring which
he pretended to assail still exists. Its
strength is but slightly it any impaired.
Not single member of it has been
brought to punishment. Charges of cor
ruption have been made, which doubtless
were based upon truth and for which the
offenders deserved years in the penten-
tiary, but the Ring survives intact and
laughs to scorn the idea that it will be
overthrow by Mr.. Tilden. The truth is
Mr.. Tilden adopted the cry of reform for
political effect rather than the good OF the
State. He intended to promise vigorous
" and fulfill as little as possible. His
promises live, and So does the Canal Ring,
as the people of New York well know ;
and the knowledge which began to dawn
upon the people of that State in the recent
election that Mr. Tilden was not an honest
but a spurious reformer had much to do
with the heavy democratic loss in the
vn'".
For more gratifying result in the way
of reform We turn to the course OF the re-
publican administration in its prosecution
and humiliation of the Whiskey Ring.
The members of this Ring were members
of the republican party. and the most
guilty ones were government officials.
When it was discovered that they were
defrauding the government, the admins
tration at Washington without making
any ostentatious parade of professions OF
reform at once struck against the rascals,
brought them to trial and merited pun
ishment, even to heavy fines and impris-
onment for term of years. Mcdonald
and Joyce, and probably Avery, the big
villains of the Ring. officers under the
government, all go to the penitentiary,
sent there by the efforts of the administra-
ton that appointed them and with the APP
prevail Of their prosecution and punish
ment by the republican party everywhere.
This is genuine reform. 1t is the fruit of
an honest purpose. Even the New York
Tribune, which is slow to acknowledge
any good in the republican party, makes
the following significant admissions: son
"the whole. the republican party will un-
Occasionally gain by this exposure. as
"any party ought 10 gain which unflinch-
"ingly hunts down and Furnishes corrup-
"tion of any form within its ranks. The
.'credt is the greater in this case because
"the guilty persons were prominent in
"the party. and had cen peculiarly inhu-
Genital. The spirit which refuses to grant
''them any shelter or mercy, and demands
'.full punishment according to the letter
.'of the law, is the true spirit of reform
:. Neither party has ever ye,
.'been free from that most dangerous OF
..all yices-.hc disposition TO wink al
.'crimes by which party success might be
promoted. The democratic party can
"claim no superiority on that score. On
1.-THE contrary. the republicans may justly
..claim that they alone have pushed re-
form OF the public service even to the
'breaking of some rings by which their
"party and theirs only was supplied with
..funds, the dishonorng of some leaders
land organs OF their party, and the pun
..isement of offenders who were influen-
..tial In their own councils. The Whiskey
"Ring, was a corrupt combination of Off
"cials and politicians exclusively republi-
lean. and it was broken up by republi-
lean administration. the republican party
throughout the country applauding
These things fair-minded citizens must