The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-05-03
The "Secret Service"

The House of Representatives has had
nnder serious consideration PROPOSE
hon to cut off all appropriation for the
support of the s'Secret Service Bureau"
of the Government. We think the sub
Iect we'll worthy of such consideration,
both ON account of it's doubtful proprie-
ty and its more than doubtful expedi-
ency.
A secret espionage is the chosen in
strumentality for carrying on the pri-
vate plans of all autocratic governments.
1t was not without reason that NICHo-
LAS, the late Emperor of Russia, de-
clared that, for purposes Of Information,
he needed no newspapers in Russia.
The agents of this secret service of the
Gear are everywhere over the habitable
globe, and remain all unknown to each
other. This system has its hydra-headed
agencies in Hindostan, its spies in
China, in the salons of Paris, in the pal
aces of England and Vienna, within the
Vatican at Rome, and within the Sultan's
seraglio at Constantinople. The reports
Of these agents of the Russian secret
service are carefully kept among the
secret archives Of the Government at
st. Petersburgh. There their informa-
tion is examined and diligently COM
pared, their statements of facts are ana
Iyzed and revolyed, and the policy and
procedure of the Czar are shaped ac-
cording1y. The world has probably
never known secret service so perfect
in Its organization and 30 all peryading
in it's reach and ramifcations. 1t is a
system which the genius Of Fouche
helped TO elaborate, but which has since
transcended the abilities OF even Fouche
himself. With such an instrumentality
Rs this, 1t ia no wonder that the Gear
needed no newspapers to inform him Of
the treason OF a chief on the borders OF
Tartary, of an insurrectionary plot in
the Caucasus, ofa British plan OF annex
at1on in India, of the Cabinet schemes
Of Western Europe, or Of Sultan's
assassination within his harem at Con-
stantinople.
But, does our Government need, and
does the spirit OF our institutions war
rant, such an instrumentality as this?
In times of war, when surrounded by
dangers within and foes without, re-
sort to such measures for obtaining in
formation as to the designs of enemies,
whether domestic or foreign, may be
needful for aproper self protection and
defense. But, have we any conditions
sfsociety in its relations to government
6hat can demand such secret service
in .timessof peace and universal tran.
quillity?
That such aservice, whose operations
are necessarily secret, and therefore moi
the subject ot;public criticism, is prone
10 prostitution, no man can deny. Tina,
its evils, when prostituted, are intense
sndremedilsss, all must admit. Coult
the Secret service bureau of our Gov
ernment be placed under the superin
tendency OF an archangel and served by
rinistefing spirits Of likerpurity and In
corruptlbility, its existence might be
conceded as among the appropriate in.
str1mentaiities of Republican govern
ment. Andeven then we should desire
some guaranty that the Superintendent
in question would not proveto be what
DMilton's Satan was--''an archangel ru.
dned."
We know that the argument in favor
Of instituting and supporting such bn.
xeau for secret service is, that without
1t, the Government would be defrauded
in It's revenues; that counterfeiting oi
lite currency and forgery Of Its securities
would be undetected and the public
Ahereby subjected TO Infinite loss and
perpetual wrong doing. And yet, grant
ing that i'm this behalf such system Of