The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-03-27
THE VIENNA SCANDAL.


Committee OF Citizens of New Jersey
sRs-I beg TO acknowledge your letter in the HERALD
OF the 9th Of March, reply my request for the au-
thoriiy on which you intimated that the government
disapproving my official action In reference to the
Vienna scandal, had invited TO resign my post II
affords instructive illustration Of the methods re
sorted to from the beginning to mslead the world In
regard TO the facts OF that business and TO magn the
national officers who exposed arrested the game OF
jobbery which had been conducted in the name Of
commission intended to represent in international
gathering the respectabhty and culture OF the Re
public
You suggest the subject has become ircsome to
the public You may, perhaps, find that u has been in
vested with new interest and importance by the recent
developments which, at this moment, excite the indig
ton OF America and the scorn OF Europe
IT'S BEARING ON RECENT DEVELOPMENT
Tho Vienna story rescued from the desperate
efforts which have been made to conceal and pcrvert
II will have for countrymen the panes OF lessons
presenting the alphabet OF corruption and disgrace
It will show the same theory Of appointments and
the immoral rules of management must Dovita-
bly, produce similar results.
The primary causes are SIN actively at work which
at the last international exhibition presented the
United States In the attitude OF offering its chief
tribute 70 the civilization or the age yankee drinks
and republican corruption; which, connected with the
Dissertation OF the government ships, wrongfully
charged upon the commanders OF our navy; the at
tempt to eude the Austrian customs under cover OF
the American flag and crowned the levics OF the first
confidential assistant the shape OF loans and gifts by
the attempt exposed by his chief to deraud the
treasury OF the commission.
We about to present kindred spectacle for the
governments and the nations which coming TO cell
citrate our Centennial to Observe the working OF
publican government after a century OF trial aud
mark progress since the days OF Washington. To
the whiskoy frauds, in their numerous and
significant phases and TO exhibitions Of OIL
cal corruption In large variety, will be
added the trial OF Cabinet Minister the guardian and
exemplar of military honor charged with the
sale OF tadershps at the expense OF soldiers the
outposts and of Indians on tho plains
If the first part OF the Vienna record shall throw
light on our home situation by showing that like i'm
morates will produce like results its second chapter
Will indicate the skilru and persistent efforts in and
out of Washington conceal both and results,
and TO transfer the odum OF the scandal from those
who produced 1t TO those who arrested IL and main
tanned the honor OF the government The facts this
point will perhaps DO found to have equal bearing
upon passing events and the charge published by the
government against the temporary Commissioners, to
whom the thanks OF the country emincntiy due
for their gratutous and invaluable services, pos
s0Iy recall the Latin maxim, ''He names oil crimes
who names ingrattude"
II, as 1t would seem, was In error when recalling
the anonymous ISLANDERS OF the European press,
greeted you as open and manly foes, pledgng your
reputation for the truth OF your charges and making
the honor of New Jersey tho subject OF your story
may at least welcome your explanation OF the curious
process, shall say, Of mental casuistry and moral
sophisry by which you would endcavor TO persuade
yourselves that you justified in drawing differences
you may find convenient and gravely treating those
differences matters OF fact. Had each untruth
uttered in defence OF the Vienna scandal been fol
lowed the consequences that attended similar utter
a memorable occasion the times OF the
apostles when for each lie spoken the young at
the door carried out body, the population of Europe
and America would have been seriously diminished and
the depletion of our own country would be still
tinuing Paschal attempted 10 explain in part the
quantity of lies told in the world by suggesting that
peor who lie simply for the sake lying,
but It has observed OF the stories touching the
Vienna scandal that they all lie in the direction.
MEASUREMENTS coRREcrED.
With your permission, before passing to the chief
subject OF your NOTE will take the liberty to correct
four FIVE of your observations each totally and
splcuously nexaot which, with generous profuson,
consecutivoly in as many lines You remark,
and will designate by numerals the successive mis-
whole commission to tho malignty folly of Mr..
Jay (2) 1t authorized him to make an investigation.
(3 After protracted delay (4) and finally peremp
tory order t5 he sent his report to the President
These statements your readers arc expected to be-
lieve from your that you have mpartially
examined the record which the government has con-
ceacd from the world, and yet that record shows the
untruth unairncss OF each OF those 1--WE assertions
l. The government did not abandon the commission
TO the matgnity folly OF Mr. Jay. The power TO
supervise it was given TO Especial commission" Of
which Mr. Jay one OF the members.
q Tho government did not authorize Mr. Jay TO
make an investigation, but imposed that duty on the
especial commission"
In regard to the alleged delay in the report about
which you said your pamphlet, page So "Mr. Jay
have been disingenuous enough not TO let tho
evidence before the President for review until
three months nfiorward," you we're careful TO avoid
all reference to the actual and explanatory facts The
Chief Commissioner for instance, had not made the
task OF eciting the truth from the grantees OF
and restaurants easy by his instructions 10 Com
missioner James after the suspension OF Mayer BE
good enough consider this letter strictly confidential
See each OF those claiming to have any authority from
me 10 and restaurants and say that desire
to question them on the subject as rs arrive in
Vienna and shall hold them strict account for the
slightest mputatton upon my honor integrity"
Then again. the persisiency OF the Chief Commits
sioncr in upholdng his frs, assistant in acts that the
commission held to be immoral, seemed 10 render II
the proper for them to ascertain the facts with
greater cxaotness. This accomplished to an
extent that effected entire change in the views
expressed by the Chief Commissioner. On the Sd OF
March. 1873 the government advised by telegraph
from the Legation at Vienna that "Presumptve indca
tons that General William Mayer, First Assistant
Commissioned. and jobs commissions, and has
secret interest Exposition refreshments aad bars
induce recommendation OF cautious scrutiny touching
his character. management, grants and appontecs
before their transfer TO Vienna"
on the sth OF March the government was aeaIn
advised that startling charges OF corruption threaten
scandal," and that "Erhart 2i0 Broadway knows ono
case" The scrutiny then recommended seems TO