, 1877-06-03

we hnvs not ret hcnrd tho last Of logislatton
on clerical Abuses.
-.---.-.:.--
OFFICIAL D1BHoBEs1Y.
Nearly TWO yoars ago Secretary BnIsrow
struck down suddenly aud vigorously an OK
tended and thoroughly organic I'D combine
ton OF Ad1onuo officers TO plumber the Treas
ury Of 1ta lawful Income, and to corrupt and
oesFaae soo'ety ny making hl.gotten wealth
q o"age Of dssnnos'on. 1hfs combination
was not Men ne". II naa existed under
'oussoSs aemoralized Administrations md
WIN osAN7s sooona ELECTION was removed
on tno most scandaloas sonle. Tho snrao
corruption extended to noariy all other
nfanohos OF tho public service. The Custom-
Housos ~efo 30 largely tainted with fraud
ouo atsnones'9 tnht olnc'als oonsldcfed that
sseanns was le8.hmate perqaislte' From the
National 70 tho state and Municipal aovern.
menss tho spread Of corruption WAS natural
aud easy IL became general and reaohca
tho point thatN was conceded that IN tho
United statos m honest City Government
WIS rnro exception to an almost uni
versh rule. In 1874 there vaa \
klnd OF political evolution all oyer the
Wese' IN which thero Was q liberal
change OF county officials. a result waa,
largo product Of defaultlng oouAt5 Treas
ureFs brought to alamo because Of their
failure to get zo.elaoEed aud tho consequent
exposure Of their inability to settle their &C.
counts. From public trusts tho corruption
attended to private business, aud dsfalca-
tlons and cinbozzloments, forgeriss and ap-
propr}ationa by bank and other corporation
officers, aud By clerks, bookkeepsrs, aud
caahicrs Of priTato firms, and even Of rel1g-
ious bodics, have become a. common a. petty
larceny. Tho CAUSES Of all these things date
back to tho War, and tho lavish expenditure
Of money, which created In the popular mind
two strong and dangerous sentiments
l. That tho possession Of wealth was tho
grand end Of human happiness, and that tho
man who was contont to wait for This from
the accumulation Of honest labor and econo-
my WAS " behind tho ago."
2. That wealth WAS to DO acquired by tho
shorteat possible processes, and Tint there
was no moral or aoctal wrong or disgrace In
defrauding or robbin8 tho Government.
Upon those two promises, social and busi-
mass, and especially official, life has been
conducted sinoe tho Var, and thas orimo has
become fashionabls' and flnds ready apology,
ia natural consequence. Ths lafgo and
sudden fortunes mado during tho War bcgot
m unrest among those hitherto content with
small and general proflta' Tho ostontatioua
display Of woalth, In tho shape Of costly man.
sions, daahing carriages and teams, tho
lavish display Of diamonds aud other gems,
and tho enormous expenditure for dress, for
tzaYel, and for living, by those who short
time previously Tsro oontent With moderate
wants ecantily supplied, had most demoEal-
izing elect upon tho moral status Of society.
Every man thought that he had as much
right to the "happlness" secured BY great
wealth ~ those nelghboEs ouee poorer than
himself; and every woman sighed for the
means TO exhibit an equal eplendor Of dress,
tewclry, carriages, aud dwellings a. that Of
her neighbors. who really were not 80 adapt
cd to those things a. she waa- This desire
to havo plenty OF money, to acquIro
It rapidly. and to have II for Tho
purpose Of eztravagant expenditure, took
possession OF soolotJ OF all classes, not only
In tho large cities, but In the most rural
villages. Speculation hardly distinguIsha-
bio from gambling became general. The
dapes and victims OF tho Gold Room, and tho
Exchange. included mon Of all degrees.
Stalking their small mcaaa Of from $10o 10
81, 600 each on soma expected "Etso a. a
short WaY To enlarge their possaRsfora ynra