The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-01-21

[From Letter by Cs-l schaIz in the ST. Louis
Mestllche Post.

enjoyed the friendship Of President
Grant, but, in spite of the strongest pres
sure Of public opinion, his special con-
fidence, taken directly out Of the Presi-
dents company and put into the Peni-
Tertiary for infamous crimes. We see
the Government, or Administration,
covered all over with disgrace, which
the mere punishment of criminals can
not wipe out, as every investigation only
adds 10 the evidence of the utter viola
ton of every duty to prevent the COM
mission of those crimes. All this j. true,
and | only express the opinion Of many
members of the ruling party when | say
that the Administration Of President
Grant, in debauching the moral tone OF
public life, has been the most calamitous
that could be imagined under existing
circumstances.
Notwithstanding all this, however, |
cannot approve OF the charge or intima-
ton that President Grant was personally
Interested in such corrupt combinations
as the Whisky Ring, and should very
much regret if such opinion could find
credence either with the American peo-
plo or abroad. In the UNANIMOUSLY pc
cuniary sense there has as vet never
been a single corrupt act of any Presi-
dent, and such an act should be cOnsid-
cred impossible. The disgraceful acts
Of our public service are sufficiently hui
initiating for the American Republic.
In my recent visit to Europe, | have
met almost all classes of people, and
assure you it is a very bitter thing for a
person who is really attached TO this
country to see that almost all mention
of the United States in newspapers is
devoted TO stories Of fraud and swindle,
and, from questions and observations,
to be forced TO the conclusion that they
there consider our public service "a a
great hot-house of infamous corruption
from which honorable conduct is ban
ished.
What, then. would be the effect if we
gave public opinion Of Europe to under
stand that we here consider the Presi-
dent of the United States, the head Of
our entire Government, the head of an
infamous band of robbers? No more
should our own people be made
to believe that thing 50 fearful is pos
sible at all. Even party spirit should
shrink from such an extreme, for II the
mind of the masses could familiarize IL
self to such picture Of utter moral de-
graduation the terrible consequences
would be almost incalculable. / know
that the President has given some mem
bers of the Whisky Ring evidences Of
, his confidence and even friendship,
! which, coming from any other source,
would hardly bear explanation. But
, here we deal with curious character,
to whom other theories can be applied
to explain these things. We may say
2 with truth that the man who deemed
: Charles Sumner capable of the basesi
and meanest act while he embraced 70
: his heart ..Johnny Mcdonald and such
r fellows as his most intimate bosom
e friends, having up to the very doors OF
+ the Penitentiary full confidence in their
, integrity, has evidently no conception
: Of the difference between a man OF hon
( or and 4 thief We may also say that
e such a man. who clin9s - the worsi
and falsest Of his friends with even
greater tenacity than to his trlest and
best, must undoubtedly exercise a mOst
demoralizing influence upon public life
: and, through his manner Of carrying on
I the highest functions Of the Gov
ernment. become dangerous L
the public: and that there
:, fore it becomes the duty Of all GOOD
citizens to put stop to it just as soon
/ a. the law allows: all these conclusions
: are justified. But all this j. still fal
from actual participation III the frauds
I Of the Whisky Ring. Indeed. j. il pos
4 sible that the President would have per
q mitted the investigation to 20 on which
T threatened the exposure of the whole
frauds and all the participants in il i
4 be himself had belongedto them2 Sure
j " not, and il is certain that he could
: have throttled the investigation in il.
incipiency If he had 80 desired. Will
: such power as his, one who feels guilty
could have soon found the means To a,
so and would not have failed to avail
! himself Of them. Every suspicion o
J such participation, therefore. hold {,
I be unfounded and unjust.
That. by encouraging higher mora
1 spirit in the public service. and great
= er watchfulness Of shameful corruption
: he could have easily prevented it an'
that he did the very opposite Is true. ant
V for this the President deserves the full
II est responsibility. But in the face o
d the sharpest criticism Of all these terri
, bic abuses let Us cling TO the belief an,
X let Us hope that there never will b
ir cause 10 change this belief, that the fal
e Of a President Of the American republic
y TO the actual membership of a band o
! thieves who literally rob the people o
i its money, is simply an impossibiliiy.