Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-05-03
Government by Detectives.

Government BY Detectives.
Under the above beading the New
York Daily Graphic writes that the
Democrats in the House have made an
rsportant innovation in our political
system. Once government by the peo-
pie was the Democratic watchword. Ii
Was under its magic spell that the Dem
ecracy rose to power under Jefferson
and governed the country for a quar- ter
Of a century. Then they gave US the
Jacksouisn programme of government
BY party. Under his energetic leader
ship they inaugurated the "spoils" sys-
TEN, which has demoralized our civil
service and had such disastrous effect
on politics generally. Now they have
introduced a still more questionable de-
vice, which may be called government
by detectives. The system is ingenious
aud unique. The Democratic House
of Representatives has virtually re-
solved that it is Congress, and that Con-
gress is the supreme power in the land.
1t has resolved each Of its committees
into board of investigation for the
discovery of charges against Republi-
can officers and the destruction of the
Republican party. To carry out the
system a great body of detectives, Of
all grades, but most of them of the
worst reputation, has been set to work
to discover or manufacture or surmise
facts and suspicious against prominent
Republicans in office and out of it. A
set of "jobbers" and 't strikers" aud
"dead beats" have been drafted into .
secret-spy service and let loose upon
the country to hunt down regulations,
damage characters, besmirch the Ad.
ministration, and kill of every danger
ous candidate for the Presidency.
1t is new method Of governing a
great nation, and it does not work we'll.
The machinery Is not adjusted to the
power, and the hands do not know how
to work it. At hrst the plan succeed
ed admirably. Getting wind of quar-
rel between two women, the detective
police succeeded in finding facts enough
to proceed against Secretary Belknap,
though most Of the charges we're old.
But the rife that brought down 3elk-
nap, like the double barreIed gun in
the hands Of the cross eyed man, did
more execution than they intended, aud
killed of Pendleton beyond the posi-
bllIty of resurrection. The attack on
Blaine has resulted in an unexpected
and powerful rebound. The attempt
to damage Bristow has raised him in
public estimation. The effort to prove
that the President had used the public
money 70 secure his own reelection in
1872 turned out the most ridiculous
and damaging failure, and lad an ap-
propriate finale in the solemn testimony
of witness who had run away from =
lunatic asylum. The character Of the
witness brought forward in the safe
burglary affair, and the fact that they
now contradict what they formerly tes-
titled under oath, throw profound dis
trust on all their declarations. Moth
ing is gained by this indefatigable boring
for smut. The clumsy methods adopt
ed by the investigators, the transpa-
rency of their purpose, the reign Of
terror they produced BY letting loose a
regiment of unprincipled spies, some of
whom have given out that they were to
be paid $4,000 for working a clear
case against an honorable Administrs
ton officer, and the disgust of all par
ties at the whole business, have brought
discredit on the system. Plainly, gov
ernment by detectives is failure.
The Democratic operators of the
new system have got more than their
hands full. They find the secret de-
tectives they set on the track of Re
publican officials and candidates have
no prejudices to overcome and no scru
plies to contend against. They are on
the make, like their masters, and do
not see why they should No bag little
game on their own account when they
got q chance. They pick up lnforms-
ton and work up hints against whom
soerer they think it safe to strike"
1t is said that they have already inti-
mattel to rich Democrats that unless
they "come down handsomely" it will
go hard with them. Democratic can
didates shake ip their shoes at possible
revelations, and the Whisky Ring
thieves, who supposed their Democratic
allies would protect them, now suspect
they have been bled only to be betrayed.
1t is general defamation and blsckmail.
No wonder that Democrats protest
against more investigations, and the
leaders Of the party implore
its representatives in Congress to stop
playing the part of iDqulsitor, and 80
about their legitimate business The
new system is novel, but it bids fair to
exterminats its operators as we'll as its
objects, and is hardly likely to immor-
talize its inventors. If Congress eau