The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-03-16
DISGRACEFUL CORRUPTION.

Gently been subjected to the most humil-
iating exposures of fraud and corruption
practiced in high official stations that
have ever blackened our nations honor
or tarnished the fair fame of the Ameri-
can character. That corruption may
from time to time have crept into offices
filled by appointment, where the parties
were of necessity unknown to the ap-
pointing officer, except from recommen-
dation, is not to be doubted or wondered
at, for 10 administration can be entirely
free from mistakes of this character; but
when the startling discovery is made and
published to the world with such certain
ty that doubt cannot linger even in the
minds of friends that corruption, fraud
and villaiuy unprecedented has nestled
beneath the presidential mansion, and
contaminated the National Cabinet, no
American with a sense of national pride
can do otherwise than hang his head in
shame, feeling that every citizen of this
Nation is in measure brought into dis
repute by his country's shame and dis
honor. For nearly one hundred years
the reputation of the United States of
America had been without reproach.
Born from tie patriot heroism of noble
men, sustained by the wisdom and integ-
rity of brilliant statesmen, and defended
by the brave and good from foes without
and within, she stood forth beautiful
example of free and enlightened govern
ment-a perfect execution of long-con-
ceived, but hitherto unachieved designs
for a model government, where liberty
and justice should erect their palladium,
and the oppressed might ever turn for
security from persecution and tyranny.
No country ever stood higher in the re-
spect and admiration of the world. No
government ever commanded louder
praises for its honor or the devotion of
subjects. But, alas! its fair fame has
been we'll nigh blasted, and to-day this
government stands before the world a
very synonym for official misconduct and
peculation. To-day the public prints of
Europe and the telegraphic cables of the
ocean are boasting of the failure of re-
publican institutions, and with biting
sarcasm and irony, reproaching the very
government they were once compelled to
praise. The government of to-day is
dishonored, disgraced, and it becomes
every American to investigate the source
of this change, and endeavor to correct
its evil. We do not conceive that the
conduct of few individuals could thus
have brought nation into disrepute; it
must proceed from more exalted source.
Corruption on the part of the President
would undoubtedly give rise to scandal
upon our institutions, but if punished it
would not bring the Nation into disre-
pute or disgrace. On the contrary, it
would command the respect of other
Nations by showing that we have the
means to eradicate corruption wherever
it appears. But the censure we so justly
merit is poured out upon this Nation on
account of the policy pursued by the
dominant party in National and local
political matters.
The ancient and time-honored enunci-
alton that Office is public trust to be
used for the benefit of the people whose
servant the official becomes upon entry
into Office, has been Systematically ig-
nored, and the present administration,
which has been in power for seven years,
has substituted instead the modernized
theory that Office is private prequisite,
to be used by the holder for advancing
his own private fortunes or ambitions.
This is the fatal malady which has attrac-
ted the body polite, and the disease has
permeated the entire fabric Of the Re
publican party. 1t began by inpercepti-
BILE degrees, but while its approach was
insidious its effects have been wide
spread and disastrous. The President
down to the most unimportant officers
have manifested no care for the qualif-
cation of appointees, but have been gov
erned by favoritism and caprice. We
hold that it is equally as reprehensible to
place relatives in Offices for which they
are unqualified as to sell an appointments .
We cannot perceive any difference be-
tween appointing men to Office because
of presents and for monicd considera-
tion. We do not discern that the intim-
idation of witnesses against public thieves
is any more to be justified in public Off
cials than a conspiracy in the robbery
would be. The whole course of the
Republican party in permitting such
scandals as the Shenck ministry to Eng
land in connection with the Emma Mine
swindle, the outrageous and upjustifable
conduct of President Grant in many of
his appointments, the inexcusable inter-
ference of the President and Attorney
General to secure the acquittal of Bab-
cock, their efforts to frighten off witnesses
against officials whose conduct is now
under investigation, and the suppression
of the Post leadership swindles of Bel
KNAPP and Orryille Grant, makes it as
party responsible for the degeneracy of
our craftsmanship and the ruinous disas-
ter and disgrace that have overtaken the
country. They cannot escape condem-
nation by making scape-goat of Grant
They permitted and profted by these
populations until the Democrats exposed
II xo,, +bo orr, of Uthiefu comes