New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-05-23
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say tueIo are 5SFCLhA VI thOAh VIM PSA-
sRade themselves there is no wrong in
volved in cheating the government out Of
its revenues. Hence, we see the smuggler
in the customs; the whisky dealer in the
internal revenue department each striving
to evade the payment of the lawful dues,
at the same time asserting his right to
an unimpaired social status. We can not
say how it is in other cities; il may be the
same elsewhere, but here, the man ac-
cused of defrauding the public revenues
of its dues on importation of cigars,
wines, sugar, or other articles which he
has succeeded in landing at an under
valuation, does not expect to take his
place in the public estimation as COM
mon thief, but continues tc hold his head
up with the highest. He contributes a
small percentage to his church, and b
much greater to his club, and to defray
social expenses. 1t is not because he has
come honestly by his money, but that he
has only cheated the government that he
expects immunity from what would be
considered a crime were private in
dividual the sufferer. "The world owes
me a living, and living I will
have" says the vagrant highwsyman.
"The government inflicted severe pc
cuniary losses on the people of the South
in the late war, and l am determined to
get back as much Of it as can, says, in
like spirit the man of loose political
morality. Thus it comes about that
crimes against the government are con-
sidered venial by those who have per-
suaded themselves there is merit, not dis
grace, in cheating it.
The various persons who have within a
few years past been prosecuted for Of
fences against the government have in all
cases come through the ordeal with ap-
parently unimpaired social standing.
The cue seems to have been taken from
the apologists of those who were charged
with treason at the close of the war. 1t
was very great merit, indeed, to be
found worthy of prosecution for this
highest of crimes, and other offenders ex-
pected and received eclat in proportion 10
the magnitude of their exploits. The
credit seems to have been graduated in
something like this order:
l. Treason against the government.
2. Offenses against the same in main
tanning guerrilla crusade against me-
groes, Union men and Republicans.
g. Cheating the revenue out of large
sums by false invoices, illicit distilling
and tobacco dealing.
4. Stripping the public lands of their
timber, and thereby rendering them value
less and unstable.
Every class of these offenders have
found ready apologists in the Democratic
press, and two at least have had volun-
teer defenders in Democratic lawyers. II
can not be said that wrong is abhorred
for its own sake in community where il
is so easily tolerated when the govern.
ment is the wronged party.
The end of the political campaign has
given respite to the pursuit of colored
Republicans by the bulldozers. Some
severe examples before the removal Of
Mr.. Beckwith checked the operators
against the revenues. Treason has been
worn threadbare, and there is at present
nothing left to harp upon except the tim
Der cutters of Calcasieu. 1t appears that
the extensive trespasses upon the public
timber lands in that parish have attracted
the attention of the government, and the
result is several prosecutions before the
courts. Marshal Pitkin being the execu-
tive officer upon whom the duty devolves
of taking care that the lawful orders OF
the court are obeyed, comes in, accord
ing to custom for an avalanche of abuse
and ridicule from the apologists of the
Caleasieu trespassers. We hear no de-
Tense offered for the prisoners. 1t is, on
the contrary admitted that they took
large quantities of pine timber. That it
did not belong to them, but to the govern
ment. 'But," says one apologist, more
jealous than discreet, ''they were worth
less logs, for whiCh the government had
no use, and cost the poor, ragged tres
passers much labor to get out" If the
logs are worthless, why, then no great
harm has been by taking them from the
v,nor ranr,ad faIiovys Tc -, Al. 49,
hand they have q value, il belongs to the
public treasury, TO take which is simply
larceny, the same rs taking the money
which should be paid for customs or a
whisky or tobacco tax and passing it to
private account
But all the turpitude of the offenders
against the public revenue is gilded over
with glamor Of credit, and Marshal Pit
kin is made to do duty as the sole culprit
in the Transaction. We admire this sort
Of journalism, as does, doubtless, the in
domitable marshal When he sees the
pop-guns Of the Democratic press leveled
at him for simply looking after the pc
cuniaTy interests Of the government, be
viii be sure he is on the high road of duty
and win go on faithfully to the end. II,
moreover, efnds that half dozen poor,
ragged wood-choppers are more than q
match for all the Metropoliians be can
bring against them, he will have to call
On forces which will be found sufficient