Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-07-27
Official Integrity.

The cry of official corruption has been
the peculiar hobby Of the Democratic
party since il Was driven from power by
an Indignant people whose confidence 1t
had betrayed. From time to time whole-
sale charges of official corruption have
been made against the Republican party
and its administration Of affairs. There
has been nothing definite in these charges,
bat they have 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 Demo
cratic falsehoods Democratic senator
called for a statement Of the official De.
falcatons rs they appeared upon the books
of the Treasury. The Senator wanted
only those which had occurred since the
; Republican party came into power, but
the resolution was So amended a, to call
for those under previous Administrations
also, running back to 1854. A. many ol
the balances found due the United States
were more technical than real. and II class
ed among criminal defalcations would
work injury to souie OF the best men Of
the nation. liking and dead, the senator
declined to print them, TO which ohjec-
tons were offered. The Justice OF this
course will be apparent to all when it Is
stated that such names a. Washington
Irving appear in the list owing the United
States sums ranging from one cent TO ten
dollars. Riggs aud Corcorsn. Barring
Brothers, even the English Government,
were down for small amounts. In lieu,
therefore, of the complete list, a summary
of the well known defalcstions will be pub
lis5ed, and from this the country eau judge
how unjust have been the charges raised
against the Republican party.
The remarks of Senator Anthony on the
subject give valuable information. which.
ia these times of political defamation. may
be of service to Democracy. He said;
'sThe aggregate statement OF the di,bur>c-
mcui Of the Treasury under the lit i paper
exceedingly crcdiiahc 70 the American Cow
eminent | DO not mean to am particular
party. but TO the financial history Of the
United States. There have bcrn di.burscd
since 1871 can hardly r, ad such big iisurrs-
Sl39GGS70.07205 Of which /, marked upon
these book, So 10000. being about half mill
lion OF dollar, s year. ana a great part OF this
j. nominal. not real.
The losses on the SI.e0 Of disbursements
wcrc. in the administration Of Jackson. slo.1j:
Nan Buren,. S3l.l5; Harrison. si0.2-: Polk.
so: Taylor and Fiimorc. $50: Pierre.
s. ~; Buchanan. nearly $50. Lincoln. si.4l;
johnson. - cents; Grant. the iirsi four YEAR.
- cents: the second four wears, ~ CENTS
showing a constant decline. whirh j. oN ing in
large degree 10 the improved manner Of
keeping the accounts; and that J. due very
largely To the Committees on Finance and
Appropriations. who have introduced legi.la-
tion here which has compelled much greater
accuracy aud responsibility. Tho average per
centsg- OF losses during this whole period on
tbs disbursement, = SI.59 IN tho thousand.
30 not believe that tho aggregate q any class
u corporate or private business. banking,
commercial, any other Kind. can show
small percentage Of io>- a, this. and il !.
gratifying that the percentage u los, !, CON-
Hnua.ly decreasing. comm. down from S2l -
in the administration Of Van BURN 90 an
average Of ;w,uty-thrcc cent, on the thousand
ds,iar-. OF only about out-.iNiiejh =. much
under the present Admins, ration. TIL. j. a.
elusive Of the Post uhicr which administer.
30, own revenue. IN the Pos, Oilice tho lo--
hs- gone down from silI> on IN, sl.nso in
Jarksou's administration. and -. - in Van
BHrru'-. 20 si.59 Tor the nr,t term u Grant
and Sl.oi for the stcoui, with an average u