The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-03-01
Strong Indiefnent.

A Strong Indictment.
The Cincinnati Gazstte is alarmed at IL 9
commission of crime in this country. 1t
is heslthful sign of the times when the
pspers that have supported corrupt sd
ministrstion for so many years shall at
length recognize the sadly alarming situa-
ton into which the country is brought.
After setting forth that crime exists in
fearful frequency, among all classes, rich
and poor, high and low, religious and
otherwise, the Gazette goes on to say:
What is the cause of the increase OF crime?
We pass by, for the present, the common
criminals murderers, incendisries, burglars,
what, for the sake of distinction, may be
called the higher claSs-the class that commit
forgeries, sell their votes in legislative bodies,
give and accept brides, obtain property under
false pretensef, conceal property for the pur-
pose of cheating their creditors, use public
ofi1ces for purp ses OF plunder, conspire to
pose OF clearing the guilty.
That paper sets forth that the war and
its consequences, deprecated currency
and extravagant living are responsible for
this condition of thugs. But it goes fur
ther and comes closer to the point in
plain speech, which, if originating in
democratic paper, would have been con-
sidered by some partisan lying. But we
let the Gazette speak:
The bad example was also set by men in
| high places. Who can estimate the bad effect
upon the morals OF the. country OF the Credit
/ M0bilier exposures; of the numerous jobs in
which cor gressmen engaged; OF the salary
dishonesty comparatively respectable. In an
other direction, The b ooklyn scandal exercised
a most demorallzing influence. Persons who.
n az
always looking for excuses, and the example
of men in high places is readily followed.
| Following close upon the congressional seam
dals, we have the internal revenue frauds, in
| which not only private citizens, but officers OF
| the government are implicated We have the
humiliating spectacle, at this time, OF the pr1-
waite secrsia airy of the president OF the United
States on trial upon the charge OF c0nspiring 10
verdict of the ju y, the fact that person occu-
plying such high and confidential position
should be even accused of such a crime in
a grand jury is 5umiliating. Then sew
eraI officers OF the government have been
convicted OF conspiracy TO defraud: 1t
has been further shown that those officers
organized the conspiracy, and trusted 10
their influence at Washington to carry them
through and this influence did carry them
through until a man of st. Ring integrity and
indomltable pluck was placed at the head of
the treasury department; and when Bristow
IL is reIsped that there was opIy one oficer In
the service at Washington that he dared to
trust with his secrets. There were men in the
cabinet and in the internal revenue depart
ment who were imposed upon by the thieves,
and who in turn imposed upon the president,
until the latter was deceived by his most
trusted officers. Then thu stream OF corruption
that flowed from headc uarters-that is to say,
from the internal revenue department, under
the control OF two Observation-Disclosures and
Dougass-tainted the whole official atmos-
phere of the revenue service, and gave COM
psrative res pectability to crime. 1t is related
of high revenue officer that he accepted
bribe because he made up his mind, after long
experience, that d shonest men could not be
punished; that bribery aud corruption defied
Opposition. This, OF course, was not valid
excuse for his rascality, bat IL illustrates the
TACT that crime, or inefficiency, or looseness in
high places, tends to and does demoralize So
ciety.
This melancholy record OF public morality
under Republican rule is so lamentably
make political point of it. 1t Is alarm
ing, painfully alarming. The Gazette is
right, that the bad example set by men in
high places has permeated society, and, in
a measure, corrupted men in all classes.
A gift.taking president, bride taking con-
gressmen, dishonest subordinate officials,
thieving contractors, all amassipg riches
and rollicking in luxury and wealth, tempt
} all classes to deviste from correct paths and
follow the devious and crooked. The Re
publican party is directly responsible for
this state of society. 1t has been lawless
party, never scrupling at fuy course &c
that its, ends might be accom-
plished. It's iron-clad ostbs con
dnced 20 perjury. 'tMental reser
, vationss obtained under Republican
. policy. Maintaining that the laws wer
silent amid the clash Of arms, it KEEP
them imperative when the sword wa
sheathed. The famous subte rtuge to dc
clare an act of congress constitutional b,
3 constituting a court to so dscide is one @
those acts that was calculated to demora
:. ize and subvert the very foundations c
the government and weaken respect 70
law. Then the long list Of defslcation
among government officials, the Credit Nc
"a bilier rsscalities, the San Domingo job, th
:, Indian contract swindles, the sils'w bid
"a of the postoffice department, the terribl
% thieviDg OF the internal revenue depar
ment, and the impunity with which all the:
% and hundreds of other frauds were SYST
Sc maticaily prscticed so long could not
te otherwise than bear their natural fruit