The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-05-21
The Whiskey Frauds.

,fr. Secretary BRlsTow is in danger OF lali'
ing because or too much honesty. 1t was
not expected that head OF department
would be ovcr-curious about bad psact'ces
in the Government, and about frauds IN Tue
imros,tion and collection of taxes. III Is eA-
nectina too much of human nature that
every temptation to fraud should DC rcs'steo.
The Government has no right 70 cNpect 50
much.
Nor. indeed. has leading member OF the
Republican party any interest 10 Gripping
his colleagues by Henying them all chances
70 feather their nests and give freely the
moons that are essential to carry the cleo.
tiors. How simple, indeed, Mr.. BE1sTow is
70 De ignorant of these things! And so the
ring and fraud.practise.s have set upon him
as an enemy in the camp. They arc queS'
tioniug his notices. They charge him with
paving his own way to the presidency, and
in virtuous indignity exclaim against the
horrid atrocity of endcavoring to reach the
presidency by honestly
This is TOO much for virtuous age, and
we can't see how Mr.. BRlsrow will stand the
exposure that has beep made Of his inhrm
leaning to virtues side.
The hue and cry raised against Mr.. BRIs-
TOW among the otfice-holdcrs is suggestive OF
gull: amongst them. We have not thought
them a marvcllouSly pure class OF people;
and we cannot we'll see how the distillers
have succeeded so we'll with their frauds
without the conniyance and aid of the Office
holders. The division Of spolls, as the
safest way to cheat the Government,
is game as old as the hills, ana
there is 10 very strong proof OF the pecniiaf
honesty Of the Federal otlice-hoidcrS to sat-
isfv us that they would not as readily .Delp
to rob the Government on shares rs any class
Of Office. holders that ever lived. Mr.. BRls
TOW has sent shot amongst them, ana the
f]ut,erlYs shows that some have been hit
Mr.. BgIs-ow has become the object OF q COM
bined attack, and if the rogu"S only succeed
in poisoning General GRANTS cars inc
Secretary Of the Treasury Will before ione
return 10 his home in Kentucky. we au-
mire this Officer for his brave devotion 10 DIS
public duty and his intIcpidity III ier1e'iog
ont frauds. We fear that corruption III
Washington is too strong for bun; but 10
his honor. be it said, he seems Determined
that. survive OF perish, be will do his duty.
GRANT is 4 very determined man, ana II ne
takes the side Of BRISTow he will "sec MIN
through" But should the scoundrcls get
his car they will triumph.
The whi> key tax is the greatest source OF
fraud in the country. Besides the numer-
ors tricks to defraud the Government out OF
revenue, there is during the whole lcg!sla'
tive period arts and tricks employed to pour
gains in the pockets oil the wealthy dealers
and distillers. The increase of the whiskey
tax at the last session of Congress just put
into the pockets Of the holders of Whiskey
the amount Of the tax on all they held. 1t
was an enormous gain TO them, and eDgi-
neered through Congress with that view.
And this whiskey tax aud its corrupt in.
flucnceS show how demoral;zing is the pro-
cess of collecting the Federal revenue
through the army of corrupt officers who
are scattered over the Union practising their
frauds To fill their pockets and schemlng to
defeat the will Of the people and keep them
selves ia poT
We trust Mr.. DMsrow will press his pur-
suit Of rogucs, and that ultimately the In
terull Revenue Department may be de.
stroyeu aud the country set free from that
great engine OF corruption.