Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-07-25
The Biunder of dn Innocent.

Strange as it may seem 10 intelligent
people, an eX-contederate who now hills
(phy sically "a chair in the United States
Senate, has been taking the statements
OF Democratic organs as true. Now and
then We expect TO find an example OF
such rare simplicity in the ordinary
walks OF lie aud where the individual
has lived fifty years and never read q
line in any newspaper except the ATguS
or Maine Standard. But that man
whom confederate legislature sent TO
the United States Senate should tall into
such delusion Is more than wonderful.
particularly now that Republican news
| papers are not thrown out OF the southern
mails. Nevertheless he was innocent
enough 10 let that opinion take him 10
charge As 1t were.
When the confederate congress assem-
bled last December, and this confederate
set himself TO proving that one quarter
master furnished too few oats for too
much money during the rebellion and
that confederate spent days and nights
in trying Ia prove that the cattle he stole
from the Union army which be was
lighting. were not guarded SO carefully
as they should have been, this particular
confederate wrestied with the Oft repeat
ed declarations oil the Democratic papers
that the chief occupation Il federal
officials, civil and military, nee the
thrice blessed days OF j. Buchanan was
TO embezzle Uncle Sans money and
steal every thing they could reach or car
rs away. One day, therefore. he ap-
peared 10 the Senate with fire and blood
IN bis eye. thunder in his voice and
huge order in his hand. lie demanded
OF the Secretery of the Treasury the
amount of Sefalcations. The amount OF loss
per $1,000 TO the aggregate received and
disbursed since 1884. arranged in periods
representing presidential terms and a
detailed statement OF the balances due
from public officers for that period. lie
was going 10 show the country the lrac-
tional part oil each $1,000 which eludej
the grasp of the thieviug Republican
officials.
Secretary Bris.ow set his clerks at work
II was wearisome task. but the vast
number OF hirelings al the command OF
the head of the Treasury Department
was able 10 accomplish the job 10 time.
A few weeks ago The formidable docu-
ment vas sent 10 the Senate aud that
body has seen fit TO publish a part of it
for general Information. For the period
between Jan. 1884. aud De ember 81,
1887, which included a part OF Gen. Jack
sons last administration. the losses by
embezzlement were $40 So per $1,000
From Jan. /, 1888, TO Dec. 81, lS4l,
period which embraces the greater part
OF Mr.. Van Buren's, Democratic adj
ministration. the losses amounted 10
s2l Is per $1,000. From July ]. 1853 10
June 80. 1857, Che Pierce administra.
tion) the losses amounted TO $3.50 per
$1,000. Now Tor the Republican admin
iStralions. Under President Lincoln's
the losses amounted to 81 Al per $1,000;
under President Johbson's, S0.4S per
$1,000; under Gen. Grants first tour
years S0.40 per $1,000. and from July /,
1873. to Juno So 1875 the losses were
80 20 per $1,000 The average loss on
disbursements from Jan 1884 10 June
80 1861, when the Republicans practic-
ally came into power was 1902 against
7S cents during the Republican admins
trations. A note appended 10 the circu
lar says "thst no deductions have been
made for amounts which may be collected
hereafter" though large percentage OF
the recent losses will doubtless be recov-
cred which will reduce the amount OF
losses reported during the past eight
years.
That Confederate Senator feels that he
has made great blunder-a blunder re-
sulting from the conviction that Demo-
cratic organ can tell the truth about Re-
publican officials. Press.