The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-05-28
RADuCAL DRIPr.
4 Knnrk the epublicans Have Of sus-
tanning Corruption.


New York Bunl
No investigation yet made has resulted
In more conclusive proof Of incornpe-
tency. mnlfensance in office, and syste-
matte fraud than that Of Tho Public
Printer, which recently closed Mt Wash
iugton His own books, his own subor-
dinhtcs, his own accounts. and his own
testimony, without references to the ex-
perts called in. establish every charge
made, leaving no doubt whatever that
in the last seven years of Clapp's ad
ministration three or -four millions Of
the peoples money have been squan-
dcrcd and stolen
But in spite Of thcse deadly exposures.
the printing ring whs strong enough to
find II defender on the committees, and
to rally tho Republicans Of the House to
it's support. Mr.. Ballo,i. Of Rhode
Ialnnd. appeared MS the champion If hll
these iuiquitieg, and attempted TO OK
teuIntn them on the most fiimsy and
feeble prctoxta He first pleaded To the
jurisdiction Of the House, MS Clapp did
when he found the evidence crushing
him. upon the ground that tho Public
Printer rs hu officer OF the Senntn, aud
is not subject to investigation by any
other tribunal. Mr. Bnllou did not ut
tempt 10 deny tho charges nRaiust this
officer. or 10 diepute the testimony
proving them. But he had the effront-
cry to Justify the most bnrcfhccd VIC
Intions Of law, misapproprintion OF
public money, false charges aud fraud
ulnnt vouchers, M If they were common
tritlrs not TO be condemned but rather
10 hc commended
AS MI Anthony has habitually dc
fcnAcd the Public Printer, and white.
washed him in the last Congress, it, is
/ Mr 81
initiate his example, and thus strive to
break the force Of this real investiga
ton, which is the first that has ever ut
tempted to 20 down to the roots Of this
corruption The influences that opera
ted heretofore To suppreae and perVert
/ the truth were. equally industrious on
| this occnsion but they only succeeded
in capturing the Republican membor
! from Rhode Island.
| Mr. Singleton Of Mississippi grasped
the whole subject with marked ability,
and presented it. 50 clearly and concise
| " to the House on Tuesday, with sup
porting extracts from tho testimony, as
to leave 20 doubt in any candid mind a5
| to the cnormiiy Of the Systematic
/ frauds which have been practi5cd, OF M
! to hAo absolute truth OF every charge
which had been preferred. His speech
/ was FREQ from phrtisanship, and confined
/ to u careful review Of the evidence and
/ 10 an exposure Of the astounding ras-
/ caljty in every branch of the Govern
mcnt Printing Office.
| But tho Republican minority did not
care for proofs. One Of their partisan
officials who had been loyal and lavish
/ in contributions Of money md In other
wnys at the public cost, WAS nrraigned
/ before the country. He must be backed
up, AS Kellogg, Spencer, Babcock, Bel.
! knap. Mcdonald, Joyce, and other
/ friends Of the President have been, or
i perhaps he, too, might turn State s evi-
denco and make more trouble in the
camp. So they turned out nearly solid
I on the test vote Of the day, and voted
! tho Public Printer 10 be u pcraecutcd
/ patriot, and the rotten printing oi1cc &c
] bc D mobile inslitntiOn