The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-03
CHE y e!lHlailg Argns.
GEANr's COMPLETELY.
Hon. Carl schrux's Opinioa--T Presi-
dent Unable to Distinguish Between
2 Maa of Honor and Thief.

letter fran Hon. Carl Schfas TO the ST. Louis
Hesttiche Post, De-. q,
We see persons who have not only gu
loved the friendship of President Grant,
but, in spite of the strongest pressure Of |
public opinion, his speclal confidence, TAX |
en- directly cut of the presidents company
aud put into the peDitentiary for Infamous
crimes. We see the government. or ad- |
miEistration, covered all over with dis
grace, which the mere punishment of
criminals cannot wipe out, as every inves-
tigation only adds tn the evidence Of the
utter violation of every duty to prevent
the commission of those crimes. All this
is true and | only express the opinion of
many member of the ruling party when |
say that the administration of Preside MT
Grant is detauching the moral tone of
public life, has been the most calamltous
that could be imagined under existing cir
cumStances.
notwithstanding all this. however, |
cannot approve of the charge or intimatlon
that President Grant was pers nally inter
ested in such corrupt combinations as the
whisky ring, and | should very much re-
greet If such opinion could ind credence
either with the American people or abr ad
In the il famos ny pecul ilry sense there
has as yet never been single corrupt act
of any president, and such an act should
be considered impossible. The disgracetnl
acts of our public service are sufficiently
humiliating for the American republic.
| In my recent visit tn Europe, | have met
almost all classes Of people, aud | assure
you it is very bitter thing for a person
who is really attached to this country to see
| thar almost all mention OF the United
| States in newspapers IS devoted to stories
Of fraud and swindIe, and from questions
and observance, to be forced t. the con-
ciusion that they there consider our public
service as great hot-house Of infamous
corruption from which honorable conduct is
bapishcd
What then would he the effect if We gave
public opinion Of Europe 10 understand
that we here consider the President of the
| United Sta ., the head OF our entire GOV
erument, the member OF an infamous gang
Il robbers? No more should our
own people be made to believe thing
50 fearful is possible at all. Even
party spirit should shrink from such an
extreme, for il the mind of the masses
could tamIiarize itself to such picture OF
utter moral degradation the terrible con
sequences would be almos; incalculable.
knew that the president has given somt
members Of he whisky ring evidences o.
his confidence and even friendship. which
coming trOul any other source, woult
hardly bear explanation. But here We
deal with curious character, to whom
other theories can be applied TO explali
r these things We may say with trul
that the man who deemed Charles Sumne
capable of the basest and mCanest &C
while he embraced to his heart john,
Mcdonald and such fellows as his mos
intimate bosom friends, having up 10 tn
very doors of the penitentiarv full copi
lence in their integrity, has evidently n
conception Ct the difference between
man of honor and thief. We may ais
say that such IA man wl0 eiings 10 tn
worst and fllsest of lis friends with eve
greater teuacity than to his trucst an
best, must undoubtedly exercise a mos
demoralizing influence upon public life
and, through his manner Of carrying II
the highest functions Of the government
become dangerous to the public; and tina
therefore it becomes the duty OF all guo
citizens to put a stop to it just as soon !
the law allows; ali these conclusions an
Justified. But all this is still far frol
, actual Perturbation IL the frauds q H.
whisky ring. Indeed, is it possible III;
] the president wouId have permitted I'll
Investigation to go on which threiteGC
the exposure Of the whole frauds and a
). the participants IL it if he himself had u
,nged to them? Surely not, and 1t
, certain that he could have throtticd t!
, Investigation in its incipiency if he had
desired. With such power RS his, q
wEo feels guilty could have soon found II
means to DO So and would rot have taile
5, to avail himself Of them. Every suspiri.
Of such PARTICIPATION. therefore, hold
be uniounled and unjust.
That by encouraging higher NOR
Z spirit in the public service. and d great
& watchlulncss of shameful corruption.
4 could have easily prevented it, and tn
g he did the very opposite is true, and i
g this the president deserves the fullest II
q possibility. But in the face Of the Shar
8 est criticism Of all these terrible abuS
q let us cling to the belief and let US ho
- that there never will be cause tn chan
this beliet, that the fall Of president
the American Republic t. the actr
membership of a band Of thieves, W
literally RIB the people of its mCnay.
simply lii possibility.
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Orders fol- Priut.ng or Book L. ing y
Iyrr Il Goo M