The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1876-07-05

OFFICIAL TNTEGRx7Y.

The cry Of official corruption has been the
peculiar hobby of the Democratic party since
it was driven from power by an indignant
people whose confidence it had betrayed.
Prom Tina to time Wholesale charges Of Off
cial corruption have been made agans. the Re-
publican party and its administ .ation Of af-
fairs. There has been nothing definite in
these charges, but they nave been uttered so
persistently that many, ignorant Of the true
facts, have been willing to believe them. In
order to give an air of authority to these
Democratic falsehoods Democratic Senator
called for a statement Of the official defalca-
lions as they appeared upon the books Of the
Treasury. The Senator wanted only those
which had occurred since the Republican
party came into powe-, but the resolution was
SO amended as to call for those under previous
Administrations also, running back to 1884,
As many Of the balances found due the United
States were more technical than real and If
classed among criminal dcfalcations would
work injury to some Of the best men of the
nation, living and dead, the Senate declined
to print them, to which no objections were
offered. The justice If this course will be
apparent to all when it Is stated that such
names as Washington Irving appear in the
list owing the United States sums ranging
from one cent to ten dollars. Riggs and
Corcoran, Barring Brothers, even the English
Government, were down for small amounts
In lien, therefore, Of the complete list, /. sum-
mary of the well known defalcations will be
published, and from this tile country can
judge how unjust have been the charges
raised against the Republican party.
Tho remarks Of Senator Anthony on the
subject give valuable information, which, in
these times Of political defamation, may be
of service to Democracy. He said
The aggregate sta. e.nens Of the disburse-
incnts OF the treasury under the list is u pa
per exceedingly creultaDle 10 the American
Government. do not mean To any particu-
lar party, but to the financial history of the
United States. There have been discussed
since lS34--l can hardly read such big fig
ures--$l3, y5G, si0, U72.V5, Of which is marked
upon these books S22.266, UUU being about
laiiH million vi dollars u year, and a great
paft.of this Is nominal, no; real.
The losses on the Vi COO oil disbursements
were, i'll the administration OF jackson s IL. %;
Van Bnren, $zl Harrisun $lU.3l Polk,
t'5sos Ntiu VuiHOle, %1.O4 1l6ice,
S0.S6 buchanan, nearly $B9S; Lincoln,
Sl.4l; johnson, AZ cents ; srant, the iirst
four years. 40 cetts; the second four years,
70 cents Showing u constant cs cline, which
Is owing IN large degree to he improved
manner OF keeping the accounts and that is
due very largely TO the Committees on
FINANCE and Appropriations, who have intro
duccd legislation here which has compelled
much greater accuracy and responsibility.
The nV.4ra ~ a.,
whole period ON the disbursements is $l.5y ON
the thousand. | do not believe that the az
gregate 81 any class OF corporaie or private
business, banking, cunimelclal, or any other
kind, can show so small a percentage of loss
as this, and it is gratifying that the percen-
tage OF loss is continually decreasing coming
down from $2l.55 in the admin slration Of
Van Eulen to an average oi twenty three
cents on the Thousand dollars, Or only about
one sixtieth as mach under the present Ad-
mnistration. This is cxciusive OF the Post
Office, which administers its own revenue. In
the Post Office the lose has gone down from
$ll .1S on the 81, 900 in Jacksonss ainlinistra-
tion, and SOL in Van Burens, to $l.5D for
the first tenn OF Grant and $l.0l for tile
secoi d, with an Average Of 1881 for the whole
PERI q. l move, that this statement, which
think is creditable to the Government and to
all parties. be printed and that the adverse
report OF the Committee on Printing on tho
est of the document lie over until the return
Of the Senator from West Virginia.
Here we have the result of an official inves-
,igation, called for by Democratic Senator
From the figures given it will DO seen that no
Republican need blush for shame over the
official integrity of his party. On the con-
trary, he has reasons to be- proud over a record
that has had no equal since the formation Of
the Government.