The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-07-05
NATIONAL CHARACT[R.
The Evils on the Surface OF Amer
lean Character,

LETTER FROM GOODWIN SMITH.
THE EVIL AMONG THE PoLITICI ANs-AMERI-
CAN soCIBIY-THE BELKNAP CAsE-How
TO CURE CORRUPTION.
Professor Goodwin Smith writes an able
and interesting letter to the editor of the
London Advertiser of Ontario, one of the
leading journals of Canada. We extract
the following; My belief Is that in the
United States the chief seat of the evil
which exists is among the politicians, and
that the national character generally,
though not without detects, is sound. II
may be fairly said that the same is the
case In Canada slsO; aud that among us,
too, the politicians, with their Pacific rail-
way scandals and big pushes, are not
samples of the national character, but an
exceptional class. II it were not so, there
would be but little hope for our country.
Go not to the lobby at WASP
ipgton, nor to the gold room
at New York, but to any coun-
try town or farming district in the United
States; miEgle with the merchants and
farmers; observe the diffuSsd opuleuce
which tesli6es 10 the general presencs OF
steady industry; the moral and religious
habits of the people; their respect for law !;
their political intelligence; their love OF
their country. Then consider low their
character and Institutions have borne the
tremendous strain of the greatest civil war
ia history. You will PROBABLY come, like
other observers, to the conclusion that,
grest.as are the evils upon the surface OF
AMERICAN SOCIETY,
and urgently as they call for drastic reme-
dies, lest in course of time they should
spread over the whole community, at pres
emit the republic is sound below, and tina
the work of the reformer, though arduous, lis
full OF hope. We in Canada must surely
be glad to believe that 1t is so, and that We
are not doomed to have a great mess of
political corruption scattering infection at
our side. The Belknsp case, which is the
worst of all, is traceable to q special cause
apart fran anything In the general CHAR
acter of the American people. Living In
society at Washington has become very
expensive, mainly, 1t is said, owing to the
unrestrained extravaganza of the women q,
while the salaries remain on the Rspubli-
can scale. The secretary was tempted
through his wife. Wider iniereDcts can
be drawn from this affair than from the
affair of Lord Melville or the more recent
one of Lord Westbury, both OF which were
il stances of individual failure TO resist
| temptation, not specimens OF English pub
lie lie. The morals to which the Bslknap
case points are the equalization of official
and the reduction OF social expenditure
itself to reasonable level. 1t is said that
the discipline of these hard times is doing
something to bring about the latter part
of the reform.
HOW TO CURE CORRUPTION.
Another lesson taught by the BelkDar
case, alike with regard to the United States
aud to this country. is the expectancy o.
framing a clear. saarp law against political
corruption, and instituting Trustworthy
and available tribunal for the punishment
OF the offense. Public theft ought to be
punishable by reader mode than that Of
a pompous and cumorous impeachment
| The robber of the state ought to stand In
the same dock with the common THE
and to have the same justice meteC
| out TO him y ne same hands. Frauds OF
| the part OF trustees were at one time be-
coming very common in England, and II
| was difficult to bring the criminals to JUS
| tice, owing to toe want of specific law
A specific law, with sharp teeth, was
passed; Sir John Paul and Mr.. Strsch an
| were sentenced under IL to penal Servi
tnde, and the most sslutary effsct was
produced.
POLITICAL OR OFFICIAL CORRUPTION
Is crime perfectly capable OF legal dehni
| LlOD, hDO one WHICH u0nd1us Iuo pIOup
attention of legislatures on both sides o
the line. Depend upon it, when polid
clan who has betrayed his public trust To-
money by selling bis vote or an appoint
msnt or a charter is seen In a prison var
on his road to penal servitude, the rest o
them will begin to be tired of the game
At present there is q doubt in the minds o
many people whether corruption 10 Grim,
or only q slight and rather amjsble in
trinity One criminal conviction WOULD
settle that doubt forever. The recent dis
closures srs not evidences OF an incress,
o. corruption, but of an Increase OF the
national feeling against corruption. AID
ministrslive reform Is really the grea
question OF this presidential election. No
only has the national sense of interest beef
alarmed. but the national pride has beer
touched to the q lick. The Americans ar,
apt to tolerate evils long and TO allow tn,
Q ate to approach very near toe verge o
disaster; but hitherto their good sense aDt
patriotism have saved them in the end
The power OF self-recOvery is there; and 1
is not unlikely that the centennial yea
may be marked in American history b,
something better than rhetoric or exhibi
tions-tbe rescue OF the repu bile from 20
litical corruption.