The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-12-16

manner of conducting the public service
needs sweeping and thorough reform, he
has need only to read Understandings the
report of the whiskey trials at st Louis
The trial of Avery, especially, more in
its surroundings and subsequent develop
mcnts than in the matters involved. are
full Of suggestiveness. Now that Bah
cock has been indicted and is to be tried,
the public will get a clearer inside view;
but that which comes from the Avery case
is enough to Justify the heading which is
placed before this article. Among the
hitherto concealed facts which have been
brought to light, is the great influence
which the ring exercised at Washington,
even upon the high office of President. 1t
had secured the private secretary Babcock,
and through the access which he had to
the Presidential ear was able to thwart
every scheme for checking or overthrow
inc them, 1t is well known that Internal
Revenue Commissioner Douglass became
aware of the frauds, and undertook to stop
them by changing the supervisors from
one district to another. Mcdonald who
now languishes in prison, was ordered to
Philadelphia. For him to 90 thither was
to knock the bottom out Of their nice lit
tie scheme. But he would be obliged to
90, unless a revocation of the Commits
sioners order could be had That order
was revoked 1t is known that Babcock
brought all the power he possessed to
bear upon Douglass, and it is pretty well
known that subsequently the power of one
much higher in authority accomplished
the purpose.
In conducting the important trials at
ST. Louis, the District Attorney had en-
ployed the services OF ex-senator Hender-
son, republican and a lawyer of the first
eminence. In the course OF his remarks
to the jury, Gen. Henderson had occasion
to allude to the facility with which the
conspirators manipulated those high in
office, and to denounce the official ser
Witty that so easily forgot its duty. The
pith of his remarks on this head are as
follows:
1t is blot upon our government that il is
possible for such things to exist. They could
not exist in England. France or any other civil
lied government, but are peculiar to our boast
ed republic. 1t is party, party, party that
damns our country, and he who has the nerve
to resist the behests OF party is worthy of more
credit than the bravest of old Roman soldiers.
Under the name of party every fraud aud in
fanny within the range of possibilities is per-
petrated. 1t is to be hoped and prayed that the
time is coming when Il man who has the I'M
periOuS force of character to.reslSt the dictates
of party will be looked up to as a hero. But
we may go to the bottom-corruption may feast
on all our institutions, and our nation may de-
cay and fall before we learn this grand truth.
| respect party when it is composed of honest
men, organized for honest purposes: but when
it is composed of men banded together to per-
petrate frauds upon the government, or to serve
the personal ends of its leaders, then away with
it. I'll none of it. Let Republicans and De-
mocrats all take hold and join i'll the support OF
principles which will serve to secure the best
results to our government, which will give
dignity and stability to our nation, and which
will inure to common benefit; and never let us
be led astray so far as to make one officer Of
our government subservient to another.
What right had Babcock to 90 to Douglass to
induce him to withdraw his agents: Douglass
was placed in his position to see that the rev.
enue laws of the government were properly
enforced. What business, then, had Douglass
with him: When an official goes into office,
he should be free and independent of all infu-
ences except that of law, and if he recognizes
any other master, then this government is
tumbling down. What right has the President
to interfere with Commissioner Douglass in the
proper discharge of his duties or with the Treas
urer? None; and Douglass showed IA lament
able weakness of character when he listened to
Babcock's dictates. He should either have in
sisted that his orders as they existed should be
carried out, or should have resigned his office.
Why did Douglass bend the supple hinges of
the knee and permit any interference by the
President: This was DouglassS own business,
and he stood responsible for it under his official
oath. He was bound to listen to no dictation
from the President, Babcock, or any other Of
ticer and it was his duty to see that that order
was carried out or to resign. Would that we
had officials who possessed more of that Sterner
stuff OF which the otfice-holders of olden times
were made. Why do they not leave their office
when they cannot remain there honorably? Is
it to continue that because man holds an
Office at the hands of another he is to be a bond
slave? 1t is little that our nation has gained
by abolition if the black man is freed only that
the white man may be placed in the ignominious
chains which are now attendant on public office.
Henry Clay made himself immortal in the say
ing, Il would rather be right than be Pres
ident." 1t is sentiment worth all the baubles
of the day, and of itself should entitle him who
uttered it to immortality. But Douglass Weld
but he was poor, and was frightened by the
thought that his tenure of office depended on
his obedience to the behests of the higher
power.
This condemnation is just. There is
nothing more dangerous in free govern
ment than the encroachment of one official
upon the clear duties of others, unless it
be that reprehensible lack of independ-
ence which permits it. 1t is a strange
state of things when an official can require
subordinates to do illegal acts on pain of
removal The army of officials in the
United States are the servants of the peo-
pie, not of the President. The constitu-
ton and the laws alone are supreme. If
the President requires one thing and the
laws another, their duty is to follow and
obey the law.
Therefore was Gen. Henderson right in
his denunciation of such pitiable crooking
of plant official knees But even he was
made to feel the weight of official displeas-
ure. There came a swift demand to know
what he meant by assailing the President.
He replied that what he had said he stood
by, and had no apology to make Then
came telegram from Washington, dis
missing him from the employment of the
government.
The correspondent of the New York
Herald says that there is much dissatis-