, 1876-03-08

PUBLIC OPINION.

IT'S ntHE, PnoonEss, AND RESULT.
To the Editor Qf Tbs Ch,edao Tribune:
FA1nrIELD, Ia, March 6.-The recent dis-
closure Of official corruption In Washington
City Inns stunned tho nation aa tho explosion Of
powder magazine might stuu, notwithstanding
that its previous existonco was popularity kuowp.
The inquiry most nomcutous at such juncturo
s, Will 1t also shock tho people into such sobos.
steadfast thought, that thoy shall recognize tho
cnuso Of this noHt oxtonded OWL OF our political
systcia. anu pro7ido tho only adeguata toform
CircumBtanccs now arc such that tho Issue can
be fairly mado beforo tho country, and most
probably its prcscnt temper will guide It to the
only reasonable method Of permanent purilca-
tlou.
THE oDT1oCs oAuBE or THE CRIME
imputed to tho 1ato Secretary Of War Was an in~
satlabia shirst for money. supor1ndacod by Als
fauiy'a social extravaganza, US tho explanation
runs; and In conaoquenco universal cry against
such luxuriance ariacs, In tho uttorauco Of whicl
tho wrung is likely not to ba traced up to It's
fountain-hcad. In truth. tho ORDER Of the immol
dlate causea should 10 reversed, since 1t ia in ali
likelihood tho cnse that the facility with which
that thirst for money could bo Gratitlod led to
the extraYagance aud fills 10 the crfuo alleged
against him. Certainly this il Ito rule IN society
everywhere. and Its Eoyesso Ia the exception
among certain unusually sitly tainilios. OptlinR-
rily people do not ape the ntyla and OK
ponses Of tho woaithest classes without
first possessing tho means and Of necessity
they must f1st have ~ almost Unlimited soufoo
of supply before p1otopdiug to tho leadership in
fashionable expenditure at Washington City.
GEN. SHERMAN TELLS Us
that, possessing fixed income and finding il
inadequate to the du'nanda Of fashion. he and
hss family ignorcl fashion, aud finally left tia
Capital; had lie owned an interest In bonanzs
gold-mino, or m olt.well, In all probability ha
would hayo remained aud hopoa to snel1 tho
lido Of extravaganza. Aa to tho instance In
formed years ago and boforo his {Delknap'sJ
tsausfoE to the East, which WAS only continued
fold, aud they aso, no doubt, eoundiy
tomp!er to tho two wives Ia manlfcstly
uu}lst!hablc, auce tho nrrt ovc!turea made With
At least reasonable Hsaurlneo Of tho husbands snqu
10 lariss, shown By tho subsequent remittance ot
the lE.t inataeut to tue husband ia The tace OF his
fEst wtfos ostenable warning a8alnas III and III shs
acENE At THE YuNEnsr.
The lady was fully acquainted Will tho compact louR
e al parties In seId to tho matter apparent ~
stages ot this particular tsanssetlo md douhe1a Il
Of ths husband. Hs recognized tho opportunity for
accunulainR money aud, 3iehlug to tAe temptation.
egsRed s Wtyes III the service At getting It, for tha
sasu of hts own protection. Tenesl!y qsutped The
plnco ct caution after aahe, owing TO the very easo
With which tho bsEgaiu an .a!o WAS ssEanGe4!, aud
heueo discovery.
Win even Ito cspsey tor extta.agnuce. ordinarily
man Will rvfsain frum intiutgtnx In tt, rather thall
nix tho Consequences Of deliberate and elaborate
crime but when II il only ttlu alteration Of h&uro,
Tho slupu putting ones hsnd behind hia bact, u ~
oc9uiesecneo in Hrhems after aehema proposed to and
urged hin dsy after da5. the nAufs! lore Of money
too ofteu oserwhelna native honesty.
fjel. Sherman, in Ai1 iutsryIsw Of March with
Tnk Tn1uuHxs St. 1ouis correspondent, uplnes thas
"h!s downfall IL lae tnoru to tie
than anything yse." That IL cquNale.t 10 suggesting
that tho smallpox " dus 10 III intosan1ental Ainala
tou, wtesca4 thu latter u Gully sylnponi iu either
ca8s Of much moso deeply. .auated discasa. Let Ii
suppose that sl tho undue e1trs.sasnee ot that aty
uot coase. A. paltics Ata csnss]sutsd eGa would su