New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-15
WoRKINa FOR A PARTY.


If the Customhouse officials have fol-
lowed the time dishonored practices Of
the Plaquemines Democracy in employ
ing bummers and bullies to illus
trate the principles of the Republican
party, they have made an uncommoniy
bad investment of their money. The
character of the men who have appeared
as witnesses against them is generally
such that q bare avowal of advocacy
would determine any decent voter against
having anything to do with them. The
very appearance Of men who sign what
they can not read, and call attending the
saloons and loa6ng on the levee working
for party, would be sufficient to make a
man with the price of an honest days
work about him give such workers the
widest sort of berth.
The Democracy were indignant that
such man as Harvey should have been
allowed to testify to the discredit OF Mr..
Kerr. The antecedents of Harvey were
disclosed by congenial Democrats, and he
was stigmatized as gambler, and dis
reputable gambler at that. We are Curl
GUS to know if the evidence now turned in
at the Customhouse will bear similar sift-
ing. It would seem, at least, impossible
that men intrusted with the administra-
ton of public affairs should have been
picked up by some who avow their own
dishonor by admitting that they hired to
''work" for the party that paid, because it
was the best thing they could do to avoid
work in the shops or on the streets.
We await with some interest the inves-
LEGATIONS of contraband commerce. The
interests of our tradesmen and workmen
are, perhaps, in q pecuniary sense, more
interested in the injury done them by the
importation and sale of crooked goods
than in the sustenance Of defunct news
paper, or the enrolment of mercenary
bummers. Can not the revenue authorities
render some service to the government by
investigating any losses in which ''penni-
less subordinates may have sold their
eyesight or signature for the admission of
dry goods OF earthenware, cigars or other
goods? No administration can be held
responsible for the integrity Of all its
subordinates. So while the committee,
80 Jealous of good works, is here, why
should not the revenue authorities ask
their attention to any possible cases of
revenue evasion? 1t is long time since
we have had an informer or suicide.
The impoverished condition of our me-
chanics and workmen and the distressing
depression of the retail trade generally is
notorious. Let the Customhouse author
tiles walk about among the ''penniless"
subordinates, as the New York Commercial
calls the class that take brides, and see if
there is anything crooked in or about or
around the bonded warehouses.
ClaAin & Co., W. E. Dodge, Lawrence
and others we're large men and merchants
of New York. The merchants and GUS
tomhouse authorities did not fear to
tackle them, and the smugg.ers were COM
PEELED to run their wares to some other
market, not impossibly to this. Nobody
is too good or too high for Investigation,
whether in or out of politics. Suspicion
rests on all, and we trust the committee
and the customhouse authorities will vim
dictate our trade, as we have no doubt it
deserves, and reform all abuses if any ex-
list. When we are taking care Of the
public morals, let US have word or two
for the public revenues.